Five people, including a matatu driver, have died after a Toyota Hiace collided head-on with an Isuzu FH lorry at Kapiti Plains along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in Athi River, Machakos County. Seven other passengers were injured in the Wednesday night crash and taken to hospital for treatment.
Highlights
- Five people, including the matatu driver, died at the scene.
- The crash happened around 7:40pm at Kapiti Plains.
- The vehicles involved were an Isuzu FH lorry and a Kinatwa Sacco Toyota Hiace.
- Seven injured passengers were taken to Machakos Level Five Hospital.
- Police have launched investigations into the cause of the crash.
Main Story
Five Killed in Evening Collision
The fatal accident happened at around 7:40pm on Wednesday along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in the Kapiti Plains area of Athi River.
Police said the crash involved a Toyota Hiace operated by Kinatwa Sacco and an Isuzu FH lorry travelling in the opposite direction.
Preliminary accounts indicate that the matatu was heading from Mombasa towards Nairobi when its driver allegedly attempted to overtake. During the manoeuvre, the vehicle collided with the approaching lorry.
Matatu Driver, Four Passengers Die
The impact proved fatal for five people inside the matatu.
The driver and four passengers died at the scene, while seven other passengers suffered injuries of varying severity.
The injured victims were rushed to Machakos Level Five Hospital, where they were admitted for medical attention.
The bodies of the five victims were taken to Machakos Funeral Home, where they will remain pending post-mortem examinations.
Police Begin Investigations
Following the crash, both the matatu and lorry were towed to a police station for inspection as officers continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Authorities are expected to establish the events leading to the alleged overtaking manoeuvre and determine how the two vehicles ended up on a collision course.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers faced by motorists and passengers on the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, a major transport corridor that has recorded numerous serious crashes.
For the families of those who lost their lives, what began as an ordinary journey ended in tragedy, underscoring how quickly a decision on the road can have devastating consequences.
Every journey should end at a destination not at a funeral.
