Pregnant woman killed by lorry ‘being chased by police car’
A family in Nakuru has been plunged into mourning after a 25-year-old pregnant woman was ran over by a lorry fleeing from police officers.
Ms Eunice Maguke, whom family members said was six-months pregnant, met her gruesome death as she was preparing to open her grocery shop at a kiosk located, on a roadside in Kabachi area, within Nakuru town.
The mother of one died on the spot following the Monday afternoon accident.
According to witnesses, the deceased was arranging her groceries kiosk when the lorry, which was loaded with soil rammed into her kiosk, killing her instantly.
WITHIN SECONDS
“I saw a lorry speeding towards our kiosks, and within seconds, screams filled the air and the next minutes, I saw Ms Maguke’s body. The driver of the lorry tried escaping before boda boda riders intercepted him and beat him up. He was rushed to a local hospital,” Ms Gladys Nekesa, who owns an adjacent kiosk told the Nation.
A number of other witnesses said they saw a police vehicle chasing the lorry before it rammed into the grocery shop.
“I saw the police vehicle make a u-turn after they realized the lorry had been involved in an accident.It is not clear where the lorry was heading to with the construction material,” said a resident who sought anonymity.
Residents further revealed that the body was left at the scene of the accident for thirty minutes before it was picked by police and taken to Nakuru War Memorial hospital.
“Police arrived at the scene after about 30 minutes and took the body to the mortuary,” said a another resident.
BAR JOURNALISTS
There was drama at the scene when the owner of the lorry arrived and attempted to bar journalists from covering the grisly accident.
Residents said it was not clear why police officers took long to arrive at the scene which is a few kilometres from Nakuru Central Police station in Nakuru town.
However, family members led by her brother James Ouko Oginga said they had reported the matter at Nakuru Police Station under OB number 031/11/2/2018, police bosses could not confirm or deny being aware of the matter.
When reached for a comment, Nakuru Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Samuel Obara said he was away from the station and directed the Nation to reach out to his deputy Daniel Kitavi, whom understandably is not allowed to talk to the press.
However, when the Nation called the Deputy OCPD,Mr Kitavi, he referred us to his boss Mr Obara.
County Police Commander Stephen Matu also told the Nation he was away from the station, attending a seminar.
By the time of going to press police were yet to give details about the incident including whether they had made any arrests or not.
The deceased’s family through the woman’s husband Mr Walter Oginga is now demanding justice for their kin, saying she innocently met death while at work.
“We want justice for our kin , because the vehicle was fleeing a police dragnet, before it caused the accident, “said Mr Oginga.
Residents have called upon the county government to put road bumps in the area.