Survivor in Accident That Killed Chogoria Girls Students Shares Ordeal

Grisly accident between Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and lorry at Kambiti along the Kenol-Makutano Road on Saturday, December 18.
Grisly accident between Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and lorry at Kambiti along the Kenol-Makutano Road on Saturday, December 18.
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One of the survivors of a grisly road accident that killed three students of Chogoria Girls High School along with their driver has recounted the events leading up to the road carnage. 

The Saturday morning, December 18 incident consequently claimed four lives, while the rest of the students who were on board incurred critical injuries. Emergency service providers rushed them to a nearby hospital for first aid treatment and admission. 

Recounting the ordeal, the lorry driver who collided with the 14-seater matatu, narrated how the accident occurred rapidly, giving him little chance to salvage the situation.

Grisly accident between Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and lorry at Kambiti along the Kenol-Makutano Road on Saturday, December 18.
Grisly accident between Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and lorry at Kambiti along the Kenol-Makutano Road on Saturday, December 18.
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“The matatu was trying to overtake a trailer. There were a couple of cars ahead of the trailer as well. 

“I saw the (matatu) driver trying to sneak from behind the trailer attempting to overtake, but at first I didn’t flash lights to try and stop him,” he recalled.

The lorry driver further recounted how he tried veering off the road in an attempt to evade the oncoming danger but couldn’t.

“When he finally decided to overtake, I saw the two students on the front seat raise their arms in distress and knew that I had to try to evade what was forthcoming,” he continued.

“There was a ditch on the side of the road so there was little I could do. But I opted to swerve to my left, on the road’s shoulders. Unfortunately, the matatu driver also veered off to that direction, and met us head-on,” the driver, who spotted a bandaged forehead sympathised.

At the hospital where the other survivors were checked in, aggrieved parents castigated the Matatu Sacco and implored the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to take action against it.

“We received this news with a very heavy heart. It’s a very sad time for most of us especially at this time of the year,” said one of the parents.

“I’d like to urge the NTSA to take action against the Matatu Sacco so that we can curb such instances in future." 

The matatu had 11 students on board, all from Chogoria Girls High School, while the lorry was ferrying potatoes towards Kirinyaga.

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NTSA officials at a past road accident scene
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