A tragic road accident has claimed the lives of four passengers, including three students from Ober Boys Primary School.
The accident occurred at Kibuon area in Nyakach, Kisumu County, leaving several other passengers with serious injuries.
Details of the Accident
The crash happened early Wednesday, April 2, just past Nyabondo Junction, when a public service vehicle (PSV) collided head-on with a sugarcane truck.
Nyanza Traffic Police Commander Peter Maina confirmed the incident, stating that emergency responders rushed the injured victims to Nyabondo Hospital for treatment.
A mangled PSV at the scene of the accident with emergency responders assisting victims.
Preliminary reports indicate that the Bestline Sacco PSV was ferrying passengers along the Sondu-Katito route on the Kisumu-Kisii Highway when the collision occurred.
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Witnesses described the aftermath as gruesome, with rescuers working tirelessly to retrieve victims from the wreckage. Local residents and first responders rushed to assist before emergency services arrived.
Photos shared online show the PSV’s windscreen completely shattered and its front section severely damaged. The bumper was also crushed, and the vehicle’s roof bent from the impact. Meanwhile, the sugarcane truck remained largely intact.
Similar Incidents
In a separate incident on February 1, four people, including three students from Dr. Aggrey Boys’ High School in Wundanyi Constituency, died in an accident in Taita Taveta County.
According to police reports, a minibus lost control due to brake failure along the Wundanyi-Mwatate Road, leading to the fatal crash. The students were returning home after a second fire incident at their school forced its temporary closure.
NTSA Statistics on Road Accidents
Recent data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) highlights speeding, reckless driving, and poorly maintained vehicles as the leading causes of road accidents in Kenya.
A September 2024 report revealed that 3,056 people lost their lives in road accidents between January 1 and August 27, 2024.
Pedestrians remain the most affected, with fatalities increasing by 15%, from 1,044 in 2023 to 1,177 in 2024 during the same period. Passenger deaths also surged by 15%, rising from 519 in 2023 to 595 in 2024. Additionally, 262 drivers succumbed to injuries sustained in road crashes.
Police continue urging motorists to observe traffic rules, while road safety advocates push for stricter enforcement to curb the rising number of fatalities on Kenyan roads.
