Four killed in Kilifi road accident
The wreck of the matatu that killed four people in Komaza area in Kilifi, the driver and his conductor escaped with minor injuries,Police area investigating the cause of accident .photo Elias Yaa
FOUR people died on Tuesday night after a Nissan matatu they were traveling in collided with a lorry at Komaza area on the Mombasa-Malindi road. Three died on the spot and the fourth succumbed while undergoing treatment at Kilifi District Hospital. Coast Traffic commandant Joshua Omukata confirmed the accident. He said it occurred at 7.30pm. "Five passengers including the driver and his conductor escaped with injuries. Two women are in a critical condition and are admitted at Kilifi District Hospital while three people were treated and discharged," he said.
The matatu, which was traveling from Mombasa to Kilifi, was extensively damaged. The lorry was ferrying sand from Malindi to Mombasa. The matatu driver, Mkamba Karisa, said the lorry swerved towards him as he tried to avoid a pothole. The survivors criticised the lorry driver for careless driving.
The lorry did not stop after the accident but was arrested at a police road block in Kijipwa. Kilifi residents have asked the Kenya Highway Authority to mark the area as a black spot. They called on the government to enact a law barring heavy lorries from traveling at night. Sokoni community based organisation chairman Mohamed Mwalimu called on lorry drivers to mind other road users especially at night. Mwalimu accused the drivers for being rude especially to boda boda riders and matatu drivers. The wreck of the matatu was towed to Kilifi police station.