Former Mwingi Central Member of Parliament Joe Mutambu has revealed intricate details of the moments before the grisly accident at Kaveke along Thika-Mwingi highway on Sunday night, December 5.
Speaking to the media, Mutambu noted that his driver did not immediately identify the oncoming tractor which was in the middle of the road.
Trying to avert a head-on collision, Mutambu's driver attempted to swerve to no avail. The crash led to his driver succumbing to injuries. Mutambu and three other passengers, however, were fortunate to escape the tragedy but sustained injuries.
"We approached the highway and collided with an oncoming tractor. The driver of the tractor did not stick to his lane as he was driving at the centre of the road."
"Further, it did not have lights, hence our driver could not immediately identify the tractor because of its dim blue color. We tried to avert the disaster but collided head on with it. We rolled several times," he stated.
The accident also saw the driver of the tractor and his passenger survive, however, with varying degrees of injuries.
"Fortunately, I escaped the gruesome accident but with injuries. Unfortunately, my driver succumbed to injuries. The driver of the tractor and his passenger also sustained numerous injuries. They have been rushed to hospital," he noted.
Mutambu had just left Enziu river accident scene at around midnight where more than 30 people perished after a bus belonging to St Joseph's Seminary Mwingi plunged into the river.
He had visited Enziu River alongside Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu and other leaders to offer their sympathies to families that lost their loved ones.
Minutes after the accident, Ngilu noted that she had communicated to Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia who affirmed that a bridge would be constructed to avert the numerous accidents that have claimed scores of lives.
"The ill -fated bus wreckage has been retrieved from the river bed and the process of ascertaining whether there are any more bodies still trapped in the wreckage or the river bed continues," she stated.
