Scores Feared Dead After Vehicle Plunges into Ditch Along Chuka-Chogoria Road

Several people are feared dead after a vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a road accident in the Kaura Mijii area along the Chuka-Chogoria Road.

The accident occurred on Thursday morning, August 13, after the driver of a Toyota Sienta reportedly lost control of the vehicle, veered off the road, and plunged into a ditch.

Preliminary reports indicate that the vehicle was ferrying mourners from Nairobi to Kiengu, in Igembe Central in Meru, when it was involved in the accident. 

Photos of the accident seen by Nairobile.co.ke the vehicle extensively damaged, with several parts scattered around the scene.

Following the accident, local residents rushed to the scene to assist in rescuing passengers trapped inside the vehicle.

Authorities are yet to reveal the number of passengers who perished in the accident. 

This comes days after a multiple-car crash at Kijabe along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway resulted in mass casualties. 

The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that it had deployed several of its crew to the scene to conduct a rescue mission.

In addition, the Social Health Authority (SHA) has also deployed several ambulances and first responders to the scene.

Video footage from the scene shows a white sports utility vehicle (SUV) totalled from the impact. The entire front section of the vehicle, the engine, and the driver and co-driver section were wrecked.

A 14-seater matatu, which was also part of the wreckage, was damaged. Several casualties believed to be passengers aboard the matatu were lying on the road reserve, writhing in pain.

Police officers also arrived at the accident to safeguard the crash site and victims, and manage motor vehicle traffic in the affected area. 

On Friday, August 7, a bus ferrying students from the Technical University of Mombasa overturned along the Nairobi-Kisumu Highway. 

TUM Vice Chancellor Prof Laila Abubakar explained that the bus ferrying the students lost control while trying to avoid a head-on collision.  

Abubakar stated that the bus overturned, claiming the lives of two male students while 29 others were injured.

"Tragically, while approaching Ahero, the last bus carrying mourners was involved in a road accident after the driver attempted to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming overspeeding saloon car," he said.