By Daniel Ogendo
Fourteen people died and four others injured in a road accident at Pap Onditi on the Kisumu-Kendu Bay road.
Nyanza regional traffic commander Andrew Naibei said the early morning tragedy occurred when a Kisumu-bound matatu veered off the road and plunged into a ditch. He said the 14-seater matatu was ferrying 18 passengers.
Those who perished included the driver, conductor, two infants and two students.
Those injured, including a police officer, were taken to Nyakach Sub-county and Jaramogi Teaching and Referral hospital.
“We have established that the driver lost control of the vehicle and it rolled before hitting a culvert besides the road,” said Naibei, adding that seven bodies had already been identified. Relatives of the four others were yet to identify their kin.
A somber mood engulfed Nyakach Subcounty hospital mortuary as relatives and friends thronged the facility to identify bodies of their loved ones.
Florence Atieno, 53, wailed uncontrollably after learning that her daughter and two children had died in the accident.
“She was with the children at Katito to buy green maize. She sells roast maize,”
said the downcast mother.
Hellen Opiyo lost her daughter and a cousin who had boarded the matatu just three kilometers from the accident scene.
Naibei cautioned motorists against carrying excess passengers as well as speeding.
“We are appealing to all motorists who are ferrying people, especially students going back to school to be careful on the road,” he said, adding that they will mount a major crackdown on public service vehicles flouting traffic rules.
County Commissioner Mohamed Maalim said investigations have been launched to establish how the overloaded matatu was not intercepted by police.
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