Several Feared Dead as Car Plunges Into Ditch Along Embu-Meru Highway
Several passengers are feared dead following a grisly road accident involving a Toyota Sienta along the Embu-Meru Highway at Kaura Mijii on Thursday morning.
The crash occurred between Giampampo Stage and Mitheru, leaving the vehicle extensively damaged and disrupting traffic along the busy highway.
According to preliminary reports, the driver was travelling from Chuka towards Chogoria when the vehicle reportedly lost control, veered off the highway and plunged into a ditch.
The force of the impact was significant, with images from the scene showing parts of the vehicle, including the engine and wheels, scattered several metres from the wreckage.
Witnesses and other motorists reportedly stopped at the scene as efforts got underway to rescue those trapped inside the vehicle and establish the extent of the casualties.
The occupants were reportedly part of a group travelling from Ngara in Nairobi to Tigania in Meru to attend the burial of a business associate.
However, the exact number of people who died or sustained injuries had not been immediately confirmed, with authorities expected to provide further details as investigations continue.
The crash also caused significant traffic disruption along the Embu-Meru Highway, as motorists slowed down and residents gathered at the scene.
Crash raises fresh road safety concerns
The latest accident comes amid renewed concerns over road safety in the region, following a series of serious crashes along major highways.
Authorities have recently intensified traffic enforcement along the Mwea-Embu Highway in Kirinyaga County following a deadly crash at Murubara that claimed 10 lives.
The measures were introduced as police and local administrators sought to curb reckless driving and other traffic violations blamed for the rising number of accidents.
Speaking on Wednesday, Mwea East Deputy County Commissioner Fred Ayieko said additional traffic police officers had been deployed along the highway to enforce traffic regulations.
Ayieko was speaking after meeting relatives of nine of the 10 victims of the Murubara crash at his offices in Mwea East.
He further said the driver of the parcel truck involved in the fatal collision remained in custody at Wang’uru Police Station after a court granted police 14 days to complete investigations, according to Citizen TV.
The circumstances surrounding Thursday’s Embu-Meru Highway crash remain under investigation.
Authorities are expected to establish what caused the driver to lose control and provide an official account of the number of casualties once rescue and recovery operations are completed.
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