Driver blamed for crash that claimed nine lives - nitegist

A bus driver has been blamed for the accident that claimed nine lives at Kamara along the Eldoret-Nakuru Highway.

According to survivors of the accident recuperating at Eldama Ravine sub-county Hospital, the driver of the ill-fated bus was angered by passengers who questioned his delay in Eldoret before leaving in a huff and driving recklessly.

For about 95km, it was a hellish drive for the passengers before finally crashing head-on with trailer.

Seven passengers died on the spot while two succumbed to injuries at Eldama Ravine sub-county hospital, according to Nakuru County Police Commander Stephen Matu.

The accident occurred as the driver of the bus attempted to overtake several vehicles at a corner with a continuous yellow line, thus colliding head-on with the trailer.

Narrating the ordeal from their hospital beds, survivors of the 1am accident told The Standard that the driver of the bus had picked a quarrel with some passengers before leaving Eldoret town.

Irene Nekesa, who spoke from her hospital bed, said she boarded the bus at around 8pm at Chwele in Bungoma County.

The vehicle, however, left some minutes past nine for Eldoret. She said on reaching Eldoret, the driver disappeared and returned after an hour, leading to an altercation between him and some passengers.

Nekesa, who suffered a broken leg, said the bus left Eldoret Town at 11pm but was being driven recklessly.

Zigzag drive

Another survivor Abby Khalachi said the driver at some point drove in a zigzag manner, causing panic among the passengers.

“We pleaded with him to drive carefully but he could hear none of it and in fact drove faster and carelessly,” said Khalachi.

Two students from Mary Jenifer Yoo Secondary School in Cheptais who were on their way home for midterm survived with minor injuries.

At Eldama Ravine hospital, medics were busy attending to the over 70 survivors.

Anyesi Serem, the nursing officer in charge, said they tried their best to save lives of those who were rushed to the hospital.

She said though they were overwhelmed, the nurses and doctors from Mercy Mission Hospital offered them a helping hand.

The hospital wards at the time were full and patients were forced to share beds.

“We were overwhelmed in terms of human resources and had to call nurses and doctors from nearby Mercy Mission to come assist us,” said Serem .

The nursing officer said they were forced to refer five of the survivors to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital as they were in critical conditions.

Matu said the bodies, which included that of the driver of the bus, were taken to Eldama Ravine sub-county morgue to await identification.