Six People Die in Makueni Crash as Lorry Hits Stationary Matatu
Six people died on Friday, November 21, after a speeding lorry rammed into a stationary 14-seater matatu at Ngoluni Stage in Mbooni, Makueni County.
The lorry lost control at Ngoluni Junction and veered off the newly tarmacked road. It then crashed into the matatu, which was picking up passengers heading to Machakos and Nairobi.
Witnesses said the impact was strong. They watched several passengers get thrown from the vehicle. Others remained trapped inside the wreckage.
Six people died instantly. Several more suffered critical injuries. Responders rushed them to Machakos Level Five Hospital and nearby facilities in Makueni.
Four KCSE candidates were among the victims. They were heading home after completing their exams.
Mbooni East Sub-County Police Commander Ibrahim Karani confirmed the crash. Police moved the bodies to Tower Mortuary.
Footage from the scene showed the matatu completely wrecked. Glass covered the road. The windscreen shattered. Seats twisted. Tyres flattened. A large crowd gathered as locals and officers pulled victims from the wreck.
The crash adds to a growing list of deadly accidents in recent days. On November 15, a bus heading to Mombasa from Kisumu collided head-on with a lorry at Kinyambu in Makueni. Witnesses said the bus driver tried to overtake another vehicle before he lost control and hit the oncoming truck.
NTSA data shows the country recorded 3,890 road deaths between January and October this year. Last year, the figure stood at 3,805 within the same period. The victims include 1,460 pedestrians, 351 drivers, 378 pillion passengers, 57 pedal cyclists and 1,000 motorcyclists.
