One person died on the spot while three others are
recuperating in hospital after a vehicle they were travelling in rammed a
culvert before rolling several times.
The accident occurred at Shikuyu near Goldmine petrol
station along the Sigalagala–Butere highway in Ikolomani sub-county.
A witnesses claimed the driver of the seven-seater matatu lost
control of the vehicle.
“The matatu rammed into the culvert and rolled three times.
A woman who was at the co-driver’s seat died instantly while the driver was unconscious.
We rushed to the scene and rescued them from the wreckage,” said Iholi village
elder, Jacob Ilolo.
Iloli claimed that the driver was drunk. Caroline
Musanga, another witness said she was breastfeeding her baby when the matatu
rammed the culvert.
“I heard a loud bang and when I came out of the house to see
what was happening, I saw the matatu flying in the air before landing in my
compound. I thank God the kids were not outside as they would have been
injured,” she said.
Moses Makhanu, a survivor claimed that the driver was
caressing the woman in the passenger seat next to him.
Makhanu claimed that the driver almost lost control of the
matatu at Sigalagala National Polytechnic when he tried to forcibly kiss the
woman, but managed to steady the car.
He said they cautioned him against reckless driving, but the
driver insulted them and even threatened to throw them out of the vehicle.
“The driver appeared drunk. You could hear him telling the
lady how he loves her and wanted to marry her. When the vehicle got to the
accident scene, he attempted to kiss the woman by force,” he claimed.
Western traffic police boss Geoffrey Njogu confirmed the
accident saying the deceased was taken to Kakamega County Referral Hospital
awaiting postmortem.
Njogu said the driver sustained serious head injuries.
“Another passenger’s left leg was fractured and the right
hand dislocated. The third survivor had back pains at the time we took them to
Kakamega County Referral Hospital for specialised treatment,” he said.
