A survivor of the Sachangwan crash recounted the final moments leading to the grisly accident along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway during the early hours of Monday, May 15, that claimed six lives.
Speaking to the press, Ezekiel Ombaso noted that trouble ensued soon after the driver was unable to maneuver the barriers erected at the blackspot.
Further, the driver appeared to lose control and accelerated hitting bumps, sending passengers into panic mode as they wailed and made last prayers.
He noted that some passengers, however, tried to calm the driver and encourage him to find a safer alternative to stop the vehicle.
"As we arrived at Molo at a certain barrier, we realised that the vehicle had a brake failure as it went down the slopes and hit the bumps at high speed. So, we began wailing and praying."
"Others encouraged the driver and told him to try to look for a safer way of halting the vehicle. So as it was going down the slope, the matatu suddenly rolled and I lost consciousness at that time, "Ombaso stated.
Susan Wanjiku, who is in charge of Molo Hospital, revealed that 12 casualties remained after one person succumbed while receiving treatment.
She added that the hospital was trying to contact the parents of two children who survived the accident.
"We received 13 casualties and unfortunately one died while receiving treatment. We have 12 admitted in the ward comprising eight men, two women and two children. They are all stable.
"We are yet to track the parents of the children. We have reached out to the police and Kenya Red Cross to assist with the operation," she stated.
At the time of the accident, Molo Police Commander Mwenda Muthamia affirmed that four men and one woman died on the spot. The vehicle was en route to Malaba from Nairobi at 2:00 am before sliding off the road and hitting a pavement.
The bodies were taken to a mortuary in Nakuru County for preservation and awaiting identification by their families. Further, the matatu was towed to Molo Police Station to undergo examination by traffic police officers.
