The driver of the Matatu involved in the tragic Gilgil accident on Sunday might have fallen asleep moments before he caused the accident.
This is according to Stephen Weru, the driver of a Subaru who was behind the Matatu at the time of the crash.
Weru told reporters that the Matatu suddenly veered into the opposite lane without any sign of overtaking. “He was not overtaking. I am sure he might have fallen asleep because the Matatu just moved to the other lane without any reason,” said Weru.
The Matatu continued on the collision path despite loud honks from the trailer supporting the idea that he may have falled asleep.
Weru narrowly escaped death when he swerved off the road as the Matatu collided head-on with a trailer at Kariandusi along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
He said his car was only scratched and described himself as very lucky to be alive. He later tried to rescue a child trapped in the wreckage, injuring his hand in the process.
Nakuru County Police Commander Emmanuel Opuru confirmed that thirteen people, suspected to be members of the same family, died on the spot. Three survivors, including two children and the trailer driver, were rushed to Gilgil Hospital. The bodies were taken to Gilgil Sub-County mortuary.
Other witnesses gave different accounts. Samuel Kamau, a resident, said the Matatu was overtaking alongside the Subaru but failed to return to its lane despite loud honks from the trailer.
Another resident, Patrick Atuya, described the scene as devastating after watching over ten bodies being pulled from the wreckage.
Police said investigations are underway but warned drivers to observe lane discipline, especially at the Kariandusi blackspot, where the road is narrow. CCTV footage confirmed the Matatu was on the wrong lane before the crash.
By Nairobi