A tragic accident on the Nithi Bridge along the Meru-Embu Road has plunged a group of women into deep grief following the loss of their colleagues in a horrific collision. The accident, which occurred on Sunday, September 1, 2024, claimed the lives of 12 people, including nine women, two children, and the van’s driver. The group had just attended a joyful parental blessing event in Meru, making the incident even more heart-wrenching.
The accident took place as the women were returning from the event, where they had gathered to honor the parents of a colleague with gifts and blessings. Elizabeth, one of the women who survived the accident because she was in another van, recounted the horrifying scene. She described the event as “joyful and memorable,” stating that the women were in high spirits after celebrating with their friend and her family. Little did they know that their joy would soon turn into unimaginable sorrow.
According to Elizabeth, the group had split into two vans for the journey. They were only a few meters away from the accident scene when she heard a loud bang. Turning around, she saw that the other van had crashed. “The crash was traumatic, and I even lost my phone in the chaos,” Elizabeth shared, her voice trembling as she recalled the events. The shock of the accident has left the surviving women so deeply affected that none of them is currently reachable by phone, a testament to the magnitude of their grief.
Jared Bikundo, the driver of the van in which Elizabeth was traveling, provided a detailed account of the accident. He witnessed the tragedy unfold right before his eyes. According to Bikundo, as his van crossed the Nithi Bridge, he noticed the other vehicle speeding uncontrollably. It appeared that the driver had lost control, likely due to brake failure. The van veered into the opposite lane, colliding head-on with an oncoming vehicle before overturning.
Bikundo immediately parked his van and rushed to help, but the scene that greeted him was devastating. “I saw the vehicle speeding uncontrollably. It crossed into the opposite lane and collided head-on with another vehicle before overturning. I parked my van and watched as people screamed. When I attempted to help, I found that the van’s doors were locked, and the vehicle was severely damaged,” he recounted. Tragically, all the passengers had died on the spot. Bikundo noted that despite his efforts and those of a few other good Samaritans, they could not save anyone. “All of them had died. There were no cries or sounds coming from the van,” he said, his voice heavy with sorrow.
The Nithi Bridge accident is not an isolated incident on Kenyan roads. Just recently, a separate accident claimed the life of a nine-month-old baby along the Kilifi-Malindi Road. In that incident, a bus lost control after a tyre burst, veering off the road and overturning. Seventeen others were hospitalized, with two in critical condition. The recurring nature of such accidents highlights the urgent need for improved road safety measures across the country.
The tragedy at Nithi Bridge has left a deep scar on the community, especially among the group of women who survived but lost their close friends. The event they had attended was meant to be a time of joy and celebration, but it ended in a catastrophic loss. The impact of the accident is immeasurable, affecting not only the families of the deceased but also the larger community that knew and loved them.
As the nation mourns the loss of these lives, it serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of road safety. The authorities have called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident, with hopes that such tragedies can be prevented in the future. In the meantime, the community continues to grapple with the grief of losing loved ones so suddenly and tragically.
The memory of the nine women, two children, and the driver will forever remain etched in the hearts of those who knew them. Their untimely deaths underscore the unpredictable nature of life and the need for collective efforts to ensure safer roads for all.
