Update: Saturday, July 9, 2022: The National Police Service (NPS) issued a statement on the Taru accident, stating that 18 people, and not 20 as reports alleged, passed away.
It further clarified that two passengers only were rushed to the hospital with critical injuries. Eyewitnesses had claimed that six people were injured in the Friday evening, July 8 road crash.
18 people have died in a road accident involving a matatu and truck along Mombasa-Nairobi Highway.
The fatal collision occurred at Taru in Kwale County on Friday evening, July 8.
Kinango OCPD Fredrick Ombaka confirmed the accident, noting that the truck rammed into the matatu heading to Mombasa from Nairobi.
Coast Regional traffic boss Peter Maina added that two passengers were rushed to the hospital with critical injuries.
Immediately after the accident occurred, area residents rushed to help the police and emergency service providers retrieve the injured and the dead.
Videos shared on social media showed the driver of the PSV still stuck in the car, with healthcare workers attempting to rescue him from the matatu.
Motorists were cautioned to drive with care and to also expect delays on the highway after police sealed the accident scene.
Marshalls were also deployed to man traffic.
The accident comes amid a series of campaigns by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to curb road carnages.
In June 2022, NTSA set a date for unveiling the Integrated Transport Management System (iTMS) to help minimise accidents in the country.
The new system will allow police officers to automatically gather information and recommend appropriate action for traffic offenders.
"At the end of June, we shall roll it out countrywide where police will be equipped with smart applications to help them automatically collect key road data for easy action,” NTSA Director General, George Njau, explained.
Statistics by the agency indicate that 1,912 people have died in road accidents since January 1, 2022, representing a nine per cent increase from last year's 1,754.
Pedestrians accounted for the highest number of fatalities. 682 pedestrians were killed in accidents as compared to 573 who lost their lives in the same period last year.
