At least 10 passengers escaped death narrowly when a Nissan matatu they were travelling in hit a tractor at Kathithino area near Matuu town on Garissa Road on Monday night.
The injured passengers were taken to Matuu Level Four Hospital where nine of them were admitted with serious fractures. One lady was treated and discharged.
The Chief Nursing Officer at Matuu Level Four Hospital Mrs Jane Nyamu told this writer that their orthopaedic ward facilities was overstretched adding that it has a capacity of 40 beds which were all occupied.
She said that six men and three women were admitted with injuries of various degrees.
Mr Benson Kyalo, one of the passengers who was slightly injured said that the matatu belonging to Thika Travellers Sacco (2TS) was travelling from Makongeni to Yatta adding that two more Nissan matatus were competing for passengers on the road.
He said that the driver of the vehicle was trying to overtake when he swerved to avoid a head-on collision with another on-coming vehicle only to hit a tractor from behind that was heading the same direction.
Yatta OCPD Edward Kipsang confirmed that he led the operation to retrieve and rush the injured to the hospital as he was leading a patrol in the area.
The tractor belonged to S.S. Mehta and Sons the construction Company repairing Yatta feeder roads.