Two people, including an administration police officer, died on the spot following a grisly road accident involving two trucks at Kaburengu junction in Matete sub county along the busy Eldoret – Webuye highway on Saturday morning.
Confirming the incident, Matete Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Mr. Justus Maina said the accident occurred at about 1 am when a petroleum transit truck lost control before ramming into stationary truck that was being inspected by police officers at the Kaburengu roadblock.
“The truck’s breaks failed while it was speeding down the steep Chimoi slope before it rammed into the stationary truck, which at the time was under police inspection,” said Maina, adding that the deceased officer who was attached at Matete police post, was among officers who were inspecting the truck, which was loaded with cooking oil.
According to the OCPD, the truck’s conductor was the first to be knocked to death by the lorry before it crashed the lady officer as she attempted to run for her dear life.
The petrol tanker driver escaped with serious injuries and was rushed to Webuye County Hospital as the bodies of the deceased were taken to the mortuary at the same facility.
The occupants of the cooking oil truck escaped unhurt.
The early morning accident attracted attention of area residents who woke up in hundreds and embarked on a looting spree of cooking oil and petrol from the trucks.
“However, with reinforcement from Malava station, police officers managed the situation and cordoned off the accident scene,” added the police boss.
Both vehicles were travelling towards Malaba border when the accident occurred.
The accident caused a heavy traffic snarl up of about five kilometers between Sango in the neighbouring Webuye sub county to Chimoi.
The police boss regretted the death of the administration police officer whom she described as both dutiful and hardworking.