Eight Dead, Several Injured in Horrific Road Crash Along Nyamira–Ikonge Highway
Two of the patients admitted in ICU will be referred to specialized institutions to be seen by neurosurgeons in view of their serious head injuries.
The effects of this collision were very devastating, resulting in immediate deaths and serious injuries among other passengers. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
At least eight people have lost their lives with a number injured in a tragic road accident that occurred along the Nyamira–Ikonge road on Saturday night. The accident took place in the area of Bwarani–Tombe when a passenger matatus collided with a trailer.
As per police accounts, this accident occurred at approximately 8:00 p.m. when a trailer moving from Ekerenyo towards Ikonge collided head-on with a Nissan.matutos of Quarser Sacco, which was destined for Nyamira Township. The effects of this collision were very devastating, resulting in immediate deaths and serious injuries among other passengers.
Preliminary investigations conducted at Ekerenyo Police Station seem to show that the trailer lost control and swerved into the other lane before ramming into the up/down-going matatus. As a direct consequence of the impact, some of the passengers were trapped in the wreckage as emergency teams rushed to respond to the scene.
The medical superintendent of Nyamira County Referral Hospital, Dr. Angela Ogendi, confirmed that the hospital had received eight bodies from the accident site. Additionally, she stated that they had admitted eight other patients with different levels of injuries.
“We got a total of eight bodies last night from a rather gruesome road accident. Apart from this, eight other patients were received with grave injuries. Out of these, five are critically injured and admitted to ICU, whilst the other three are stable,” Dr. Ogendi explained.
She added that among the injured passengers were those with serious head injuries and would need specialized medical attention. “Two of the patients admitted in ICU will be referred to specialized institutions to be seen by neurosurgeons in view of their serious head injuries,” she explained.
Reports from the police indicated that among those who were killed outright in the accident were five adults and a juvenile, demonstrating the human cost of this accident. The names of the deceased were not given until their families were notified.
The accident led to a traffic jam on the busy Nyamira-Ikonge road as police officers and civilians responded to remove the wreckage from the road. The trail of destruction left behind by the collision, including the smashed matatu and trailer, described the magnitude of the accident.
The National Police Service has launched an investigation to establish the circumstances under which this accident occurred. The authorities have reiterated the need to be cautious on our roads in order to avert such tragic occurrences.
Road safety campaigners have also called for a tough approach to be adopted in observing road traffic rules, especially on major roads where crashes have frequently occurred. The road in question was described by local residents as a dangerous road. As the families of the victims come to terms with the tragedy, this accident is a harsh reminder of the need for prudent driver behavior and a commitment to road safety legislation in order to protect lives on Kenyan roads.
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