One person died while others sustained serious injuries following a fatal road accident that involved three vehicles at Mukhonje trading center along Eldoret – Webuye highway in Matete Sub-County, Kakamega county.
According to eyewitnesses the accident occurred after a tanker ferrying petrol to a neighbouring country developed brakes failure while descending towards Mukhonje before the driver lost control ramming into a second petrol tanker that was in front fully loaded with fuel.
The impact pushed the second tanker to hit a Canter lorry in front before bursting into flames burning the three vehicles.
The driver of the first tanker was burnt beyond recognition while the driver of the second tanker and the canter escaped with injuries.
“I was hit from the back and thrown out of the vehicle, but I thank God I’m alive,” said Samuel Kinyanjui, the canter driver, adding that all the three vehicles were headed towards Webuye when the accident occurred.
It took the effort of fire fighters from Kakamega and Bungoma Counties to put off the deadly petrol fire that had consumed shops and close to a half kilometre of the road.
Confirming the incident, Matete Sub-County Police Commander Gifinalis Barasa said it took several hours to control the fire which left trail of destruction around the market.
He said apart from the three vehicles, two shops at the market were partially burned including the tarmacked road that has been damaged completely.
The police boss has called on the truck drivers to be extra careful as they approach Mukhonje and Chimoi area because of the road steepness and several corners.
Mukhonje residents however have once again appealed to the government to expand Eldoret-Webuye Highway due to increasing accidents at the road.
