Traffic along the Mombasa- Nairobi Highway was on Wednesday interrupted after a trailer ferrying crude oil overturned, disrupting movement along the busy road.
According to reports, the trailer allegedly lost control before overturning at the Lukenya area in Athi River, Machakos County.
Following the incident, members of the public rushed to the scene and began scooping the crude oil strewn all over the highway.
However, police officers who were on high alert quickly arrived at the accident scene and dispersed the busy residents who had gathered around the scene of the incident.
As a result of the accident, 1 person was critically injured. They were, however, rushed to the Machakos Referral Hospital for specialised medical attention.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the injured person was the trailer driver who was ferrying the crude oil from Mombasa to Nairobi.
Responders from Machakos County also arrived at the scene and helped clean the scene including safely disposing the oil strewn all over the road.
The trailer was also towed away to ease traffic along the highway.
The incident comes barely three weeks after a bus ferrying passengers got involved in a head-on collision with a trailer ferrying petroleum along the Busia - Kisumu Highway.
Reports indicated the tanker which was coming from Kisumu lost control while trying to overtake a Probox.
A rescue operation was quickly launched before more damage could occur. The driver of the tanker and his co-driver were the only causalities from the accident.
"All the victims rushed to Busia Referral Hospital where they are being attended and two dead bodies removed to the Busia Referral Hospital Mortuary pending postmortem and identifications," the police report read in part.
"The fire has been put off and arrangements to recover wreckage are underway. The prime mover was burnt but the tanker carrying diesel was rescued," the report further read.
