At least 13 people lost their lives on Tuesday afternoon and three others sustained critical injuries following a grisly accident involving a matatu and trailer at Pangala in Kisumu Ndogo area on the Londiani-Muhoroni Road.
According to eyewitnesses, the trailer’s driver lost control of the truck while heading to Londiani, which veered of its lane and collided head-on with the oncoming matatu, which was heading to Kisumu.
As a result, 13 of the matatu’s occupants, including the driver, died on the scene, while the three survivors, a child and two adults, suffered critical injuries. The trailer’s driver survived but fled the scene soon after.
“The unknown driver who escaped after the accident, was driving motor vehicle registration number KCG 089F/ZF 6346 Mercedes Benz from Kipsitet General direction at about 1330 hours and on reaching Kisumu Ndogo along Muhoroni- Kipsitet Road 6kms North of the station ,lost control of the vehicle,” read a police report.
“It (trailer) left its lane and hit motor vehicle registration number KCS 415z Toyota matatu driven by one Mr Meshack otieno who died on the spot.”
According to Kapchebwai sub-location Assistant Chief Gregory Kemei, the survivors were rushed to Muhoroni sub-county hospital for treatment.
The victims’ remains are currently at St. Vincent Mission Hospital mortuary in Muhoroni, pending identification.
Police have since cleared the accident scene with the wreckages of the vehicles being towed to Kipsitet Police Station pending inspection.
A manhunt for the driver of the trailer is currently ongoing.
