Five people have died along the Garissa-Mwingi stretch in a grisly road accident that happened on Monday. [Photo/Citizen TV]
Five people among them a 4-year-old girl were today killed when the vehicle they were traveling in was involved in a grisly road accident, near Bangale shopping center about 80 km along the Garissa-Mwingi road.
Those killed include the driver and the mother of the 4-year-old. The driver died on arrival at the Garissa referral hospital while the mother of the 4-year-old succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at the same facility.
Two other victims who could not be immediately identified died on the spot. The vehicle, a Toyota Estima KBX 519 R had 10 passengers on board at the time of the horrible crash.
According to a police source that is not authorized to speak to the press, the driver of the vehicle lost control and rolled severally after its front left tire burst when it hit a pothole at high speed.
Talking to the press at his residence, the driver’s father Omar Bagana, a resident of Madogo, Tana River County, said his son was taking his sister to Nakuru to collect some bursary forms.
“They left Madogo at around 9 am only to receive a phone call from my daughter barely an hour informing me of the accident. She told me that my son had sustained serious head injuries,” Bagana said.
“I picked a boda-boda of from my friend and headed towards the scene but on way, I met the vehicle that was bringing my son to the hospital. I followed the vehicle but when we arrived he was pronounced dead,” he added.
He said his daughter sustained back and leg injuries. Her condition alongside two other victims was serious but stable.
It’s suspected that the driver picked 8 other passengers around Madogo who were to alight before Mwingi.
Daudi Loka, a driver, said the section of the road that the accident happened was bumpy and a black spot that needs to re-tarmacked because it was not smooth.
Loka said it was even more dangerous for new drivers plying the route for the first time.