Survivors of the tragic crash that claimed the lives of four Dr Aggrey Secondary School students and other two members of the public along the Wundanyi-Mwatate Road have recounted the final moments before the accident occurred and what led to the fatal crash.
The survivors narrated that the accident occurred after the driver of the minibus they had boarded lost control of the vehicle at a blackspot in Josa.
This was shortly after the bus experienced a tyre burst before the accident happened, the driver is said to have experienced brake failures, shortly before the vehicle overturned.
The two members of the public who perished were the bus driver and a parent who had gone to pick up his son from school after they were sent home.
The school's board of management ordered its closure following a second fire incident that occurred on Saturday, just three days after the first blaze.
Preliminary investigations suggested that the dormitory fires could have been caused by an electrical fault, potentially triggered by the ongoing rains across the nation.
Thirteen students and an adult were injured and rushed to Mwatate Sub-County Hospital, where they are receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased were transferred to Moi Hospital mortuary for identification and preservation.
Images and videos from the scene showed the bus in complete disarray, with a shattered windscreen, broken windows, overturned seats, and deflated tyres, highlighting the severity of the crash.
In the aftermath, locals were seen gathering at a distance while some rushed to the wreckage to help rescue those trapped inside the bus.
Moments later, firefighters from the Taita Taveta County government, accompanied by police officers, arrived at the scene. They towed the wrecked vehicle, cordoning off the area to enable investigations.
The Josa section of the winding Wundanyi-Mwatate Highway in Taita Taveta offers breathtaking views for first-time travellers, but it has also been the site of numerous past accidents.
In 2019, a Taita Taveta University bus overturned at the same spot, resulting in one student’s death and leaving over 20 others injured. Earlier, in January 2018, a Royal Service Company bus also rolled at the location, killing two people and injuring 26 others. The passengers were mourners on their way to a funeral in Mghambonyi, Wundanyi.
