Man dead in Mombasa Road dawn accident

Man dead in Mombasa Road dawn accident

A man died in the early hours of Tuesday morning following a grisly road accident along the Nairobi–Mombasa highway in Machakos County.

The victim, identified as 35-year-old Thomas Opiyo, was killed after the motorcycle he was riding was hit by a truck in the Kasina area, Mlolongo Township, Athi River sub-county.

Police said Opiyo was rushed to Kitengela Sub-County Hospital in Kajiado but was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to a police report filed at Mavoko Police Station, the accident occurred at around midnight near Kasina AIC Church.

It involved an Isuzu FRR truck, driven by Stephen Mwoki, 39, and a TVS motorcycle ridden by Opiyo, who was wearing both a helmet and a reflective jacket.

Both vehicles were headed towards Mombasa when the truck’s cabin allegedly unlocked and overturned, obstructing the driver’s view. The driver lost control, ramming into the rear of the motorcycle before the truck came to a stop in a ditch.

Opiyo sustained severe chest and abdominal injuries. His body was later moved to Kitengela Sub-County Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem. The wreckage of the truck and motorcycle was towed to Mavoko Police Station for inspection, as investigations into the incident continue.

This tragedy happened less than 24 hours after another fatal crash on the same highway, just a few kilometres away at Primarosa area, Athi River.

In Monday’s accident, Dennis Kasyoki, the driver of a Ford Ranger, died instantly after his vehicle collided with a trailer.

Police said the Ford Ranger attempted to overtake the trailer, a Mercedes Actros ferrying a container of used shoes from Mombasa to Congo, but cut in abruptly. Both vehicles lost control and veered off the road, causing the container to topple and crush the Ford Ranger.

A passenger in the Ford Ranger, James Mwangangi Mulatya, was injured and taken to Shalom Community Hospital in Athi River, while the trailer driver escaped unhurt.

Traffic police documented the scene and confirmed that investigations into both accidents are underway.