Two people were killed while nine others sustained injuries following a grisly road accident involving a Toyota Hilux pickup and a 2NK Sacco matatu near Kwa V area along the Sagana-Makutano road in Kirinyaga County on Monday evening.
The accident occurred after the pickup, which belonged to a milk manufacturing company based in Nyeri, reportedly suffered a tyre burst before its driver lost control and collided head-on with the oncoming matatu.
Confirming the incident at the scene, Kirinyaga West Sub-County Police Commander Julius Gaya said the pickup was travelling from Sagana towards Makutano when the accident happened.
Gaya explained that after the tyre burst, the driver lost control, causing the pickup to veer off its lane and plunge into the trench separating the two carriageways.
The vehicle then crossed over to the opposite side of the highway, where it struck the matatu, which was travelling from Makutano towards Sagana.
The impact was severe, killing the matatu driver and a female passenger believed to be middle-aged at the scene.
The driver was identified, while the woman had not been identified by the time of reporting.
Their bodies were taken to Kerugoya Mortuary, where they were being held pending postmortem examinations.
Nine other passengers travelling in the matatu were injured in the crash. They sustained various injuries, including trauma to the head, face, chest, hands and legs, while others complained of general body pain.
The injured were rushed to Sagana Sub-County Hospital and Kerugoya County Referral Hospital for treatment, with ambulances and Good Samaritans assisting in the rescue operation.
The pickup driver escaped without injuries, according to Commander Gaya, who confirmed that he was present at the scene following the collision.
Residents of Kwa V and the surrounding Sagana area described the incident as frightening, saying the pickup appeared to have crossed the highway before crashing into the matatu.
James Gatimu Wambui, one of the residents who rushed to the scene, said he was shocked by the sight of the pickup moving through the air towards the opposite carriageway.
He said he initially could not understand what was happening until he realised that the vehicle was a milk-carrying pickup that had collided with the matatu.
The crash attracted a large crowd, with some residents rushing to assist the injured while others reportedly attempted to collect milk from the damaged pickup.
Police officers intervened to control the crowd and prevent people from taking the milk. Gaya warned residents against attempting to collect the spilled products, telling those interested to seek assistance through the police station instead.
Meanwhile, residents expressed concern over the frequency of road accidents along the highway, particularly at night, and called on motorists to exercise caution.
Joseph Mwangi, another resident, suggested that excessive speed could have contributed to the crash, although police had not established the cause beyond the reported tyre burst and subsequent loss of control.
The incident once again highlights the dangers of losing control of a vehicle on busy highways, where a single crash can affect several road users.
Police said both wrecked vehicles were towed to Sagana Police Station, where they were being held pending inspection as investigations into the accident continued.
The bodies of the two victims remained at Kerugoya Mortuary awaiting autopsy as families prepared to receive the remains of their loved ones.
