Among the dead were four Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates who were returning home after completing their national exams.
Reports indicate that the lorry, reportedly speeding, lost control and crashed into the stationary matatu at Ngoluni Stage.
Reports indicate that the lorry, reportedly speeding, lost control and crashed into the stationary matatu at Ngoluni Stage.
Eyewitnesses said the lorry veered off the newly tarmacked road, hitting the matatu, which was picking up passengers heading to Machakos and Nairobi.
Six people died instantly at the scene, while several others sustained serious injuries. The injured were rushed to Machakos Level Five Hospital and other nearby health facilities, according to Mbooni East Sub-County Police Commander Ibrahim Karani. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Tower Mortuary.
Footage from the accident showed the matatu badly damaged, with shattered windows, deflated tyres, a broken windscreen, and mangled seats.
Six people died instantly at the scene, while several others sustained serious injuries. The injured were rushed to Machakos Level Five Hospital and other nearby health facilities, according to Mbooni East Sub-County Police Commander Ibrahim Karani. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Tower Mortuary.
Footage from the accident showed the matatu badly damaged, with shattered windows, deflated tyres, a broken windscreen, and mangled seats.
Pieces of glass were scattered across the road, highlighting the force of the collision. The accident drew a large crowd, with locals helping traffic police officers retrieve victims from the wreckage.
This tragic incident comes amid a surge of road accidents in the region over the past two weeks. Just a week earlier, on November 15, a bus heading from Kisumu to Mombasa collided head-on with a lorry along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway in the Kinyambu area of Makueni. That accident also claimed several lives.
Witnesses of the November 15 crash revealed that the bus driver had attempted to overtake another vehicle when he lost control and rammed into the oncoming lorry, resulting in a fatal collision.
According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Kenya has recorded 3,890 road fatalities between January and October this year.
This tragic incident comes amid a surge of road accidents in the region over the past two weeks. Just a week earlier, on November 15, a bus heading from Kisumu to Mombasa collided head-on with a lorry along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway in the Kinyambu area of Makueni. That accident also claimed several lives.
Witnesses of the November 15 crash revealed that the bus driver had attempted to overtake another vehicle when he lost control and rammed into the oncoming lorry, resulting in a fatal collision.
According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Kenya has recorded 3,890 road fatalities between January and October this year.
This is slightly higher than the 3,805 deaths recorded during the same period last year. The fatalities include 1,460 pedestrians, 351 drivers, 378 pillion passengers, 57 cyclists, and 1,000 motorcyclists.
The NTSA continues to urge drivers to observe speed limits, avoid reckless overtaking, and adhere to traffic rules to prevent such tragic accidents.
The NTSA continues to urge drivers to observe speed limits, avoid reckless overtaking, and adhere to traffic rules to prevent such tragic accidents.
Road safety advocates have also emphasized the importance of maintaining vehicles in good condition and being alert, especially on busy highways and new roads.
The deaths of the KCSE candidates in this accident have particularly shocked the community. Students and parents alike are mourning the loss of young lives whose futures were full of promise.
The deaths of the KCSE candidates in this accident have particularly shocked the community. Students and parents alike are mourning the loss of young lives whose futures were full of promise.
Authorities have called for increased vigilance, especially on routes frequented by school transport and public vehicles.
Police and local authorities are now investigating the cause of the crash to determine if the lorry driver was negligent or if other factors contributed to the accident.
Police and local authorities are now investigating the cause of the crash to determine if the lorry driver was negligent or if other factors contributed to the accident.
Meanwhile, the injured continue to receive treatment at various hospitals, and officials are monitoring their conditions closely.
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