Kenyatta University in mourning as 11 students die in tragic road accident
Police have confirmed that 11 Kenyatta University students lost their lives in a fatal road accident at Pipeline area along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway at about 5:50 pm on March 11, 2024.
The accident involved two motor vehicles, one belonging to Trans East and the other belonging to Kenyatta University.
Details of the drivers have not yet been released.
Preliminary investigations by the police indicate that the Kenyatta University bus was travelling from Nairobi towards Mombasa, while the Trans East lorry was heading towards Nairobi.
In adverse weather conditions with heavy rainfall, the university bus attempted to overtake a fleet of vehicles but skidded to the right side of the road towards Mombasa.
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This manoeuvre forced the driver of the Trans East truck to swerve to avoid a head-on collision, resulting in a collision with the left side of the university bus.
Tragically, the impact of the collision resulted in the immediate deaths of ten students and serious injuries to an unknown number of students and teachers.
The injured individuals are presently undergoing treatment at Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi, as confirmed by the police commander of Voi sub-county Ibrahim Dafala.
A subsequent police report indicates that the university bus was carrying a total of 58 passengers, including 54 students, a lab technician, a student leader and two drivers.
The injuries sustained in the accident are classified into three categories:
Firstly, there were eleven fatalities, with ten students tragically losing their lives at the scene of the accident. Additionally, one individual succumbed to their injuries upon arrival at the hospital.
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Secondly, a total of forty-two individuals suffered severe injuries as a result of the collision.
Lastly, four individuals sustained minor injuries in the incident.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident and will provide updates as more information becomes available.