17 killed in multi-vehicle crash on Kenyan highway
The crash occurred at around 00:10 a.m. (2110 GMT Friday) at Mlima Kiu in the Salama area when the driver of a truck heading for the coastal city of Mombasa attempted to overtake a line of vehicles but clipped the rear right side of another truck traveling in the same direction, according to the police.
Nairobi, October 3 - A devastating multi-vehicle crash along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway claimed the lives of at least 17 people early Saturday morning, according to Kenyan police. The incident occurred around 00:10 a.m. (2110 GMT Friday) near Mlima Kiu in the Salama area when a truck attempting to overtake a line of vehicles struck the rear right side of another truck moving in the same direction. The initial collision caused the driver of the first truck to lose control, sending the vehicle into oncoming traffic.
The out-of-control truck then sideswiped two oncoming vehicles heading towards Nairobi, colliding with a minibus carrying 12 passengers. Tragically, the minibus driver and all 12 passengers were killed at the scene. As the chaotic accident unfolded, the out-of-control truck eventually came to a stop after colliding with another oncoming vehicle, resulting in a total death toll of 17 people, including the driver of the initial truck.
Police noted that further investigations were underway to determine the exact cause of the multi-vehicle pileup. Road accidents are alarmingly common along this major transport corridor, primarily attributed to reckless driving, dangerous overtaking practices, driving under the influence of alcohol, and motorcyclists' failure to wear helmets.
The National Transport and Safety Authority reported that approximately 4,000 people lose their lives on Kenyan roads each year, despite ongoing road-safety campaigns by government agencies and private-sector stakeholders.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
