One of the survivors of the Kakuma-Lodwar highway accident that left 14 people dead and 13 others injured on Saturday, February 4, emotionally recounted the last moments before the grisly accident.
Speaking from Lodwar County and Referral Hospital where he was receiving treatment on Sunday, February 5, Benjamin Mario narrated how the driver’s attempt to save the lives of everyone aboard the ill-fated canter failed.
He explained how they boarded the lorry with their goods from Kakuma market with hopes of arriving home before the lorry experienced a tyre burst.
“There were several camels crossing the road, and there was a Nissan coming from the opposite direction. The driver tried to evade the camels but he hit one of them.
This was then followed by a tyre burst leading the lorry to veer off the road and landing into a ditch and then overturning,” he recounted.
The ill-fated lorry was carrying more than 30 people. Among those who died are four children and ten adults including seven men and three women.
According to the Turkana chief officer of health Peter Lomorukai, the entire county was thrown into mourning following the tragic accident.
“I want to thank the health fraternity for giving a quick emergency response, those who were off duty and on duty for responding very first,” he noted.
Bodies of the deceased were ferried to the mortuary in the same hospital where an autopsy will be conducted to establish their cause of death.
The vehicle was towed to Lodwar Police Station where an inspection would be conducted to establish the cause of the accident and a comprehensive report filed.
Section 56 (2) of the Traffic Act prohibits drivers from carrying passengers in a manner than endangers their lives.
“No vehicle shall be used on a road if it is loaded in such a manner as to make it a danger to other persons using the road or to persons travelling on the vehicle,” part of Section 58 (1) reads.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE
