The driver of the ill-fated trailer that caused the death of over 51 road users in Londiani on Friday, June 30, reportedly attempted to prevent the accident from occurring.
After their trailer broke down along the Kericho-Nakuru highway, the Rwandese driver and his turnboy parked it by the roadside in an effort to temporarily repair it as they continued with the journey.
According to the area residents, the truck ferrying cement broke down about three kilometres from the junction, forcing the driver to chock the wheels to immobilize it as they carried out the necessary repairs.
However, the unexpected happened, as the chocks broke due to the weight of the goods, breaking free the loaded trailer, which posed a danger to unsuspecting road users.
“The vehicle that caused the accident had broken down at the Senate area along Mau Summit-Kericho Highway. I saw the driver and his conductor working on the trailer about three kilometres from the junction,” an eyewitness recalled.
As the truck began to speed down the slope, slowly gaining momentum, the driver, who was caught unaware, resorted to jumping into his seat to seize control in a last-minute attempt to mitigate the escalating situation.
"The vehicle had stalled due to mechanical issues. The driver and his assistant alighted only for the vehicle to overpower the chocks placed beneath the wheels and begin moving.
“The truck cabin had separated from the trailer and was acting like a separate vehicle, over which the driver had no control,” added the eyewitness.
When the accident occurred, Peter Otieno, one of the drivers along the Kericho-Nakuru highway, stated that upon seeing the speeding trailer and sensing danger, he slowed down to avoid a head-on collision.
However, another driver behind him proceed to overtake his vehicle and drove straight into the oncoming trailer leading to a fatal crash that consumed nearly seven other matatus.
The trailer then swept boda boda riders and other road users before crashing into a roadside market.
Reacting to the incident, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, on Saturday, July 1, ordered the National Safety and Transport Authority (NTSA) to instal speed detection cameras in the area in an effort to arrest traffic offenders.
The CS further urged county governments to relocate traders from roadside markets.
Police officers, conversely, were directed to intensify a crackdown on all roads and apprehend motorists who flout traffic laws.
According to data released on Thursday, June 29, by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), at least 2,124 fatalities occurred between January and June 2023.
According to the data, pedestrians were responsible for a large portion of these fatalities, accounting for 729 lives lost.
