Members of the public on Wednesday scrambled for palm oil as two sustained serious injuries in Nairobi Mombasa road accident.
The injured were both occupants of an oil tanker that overturned following a self-involved accident at Lukenya area in Athi River, Machakos County.
Athi River South subcounty police commander Jos Mudavadi said the injured included the Mercedes Benz oil tanker’s driver.
The incident was reported to Kyumbi police station at 6.45am.
“It occurred today at about 6.30am along Nairobi-Mombasa highway at Lukenya area. The driver namely Ramadhan Mwalimu was driving a motor vehicle of Mercedes Benz oil tanker that was ferrying crude palm oil from Mombasa to Nairobi,” Mudavadi told the Star on Wednesday.
He said upon reaching at the scene of accident, the motor vehicle’s pinion connecting the prime mover and trailer disconnected making the tanker to loose balance.
The driver then lost control of the trailer causing it to veer off the road to the left before it overturned.
“As a result of the accident, the driver sustained a fracture on his right hand while his passenger namely Juma Ndegwa, sustained a stiff neck and sharp pain on the back,” Mudavadi said.
They were both rushed to Machakos Level 5 hospital where they are undergoing treatment.
The crude palm oil was spilled on the road prompting the public scramble for the 20-litre jerrycans.
It took police effort to disperse the residents from helping themselves to the oil.
Traffic police officers from Kyumbi police station cleared the scene of accident and towed the tanker to the station awaiting inspection.
