REVEALED: What Caused Deadly Collision at Nithi Bridge That Claimed 12 Lives

 

A tragic accident occurred on Saturday night, August 31, at Nithi Bridge along the Meru-Nairobi road, resulting in the loss of twelve lives.

The incident, which took place around 9 pm, involved a head-on collision between a 10-seater van heading to Nairobi and a pickup truck traveling towards Meru.

The cause of the accident was determined to be a brake failure in the matatu, which led to it crossing into the wrong lane and colliding with the Miraa-laden pickup truck.

The pickup was on its way from Nairobi to Meru when the matatu, unable to stop, veered into its path, causing the fatal crash.

Tharaka Nithi police commander Zacheaus Ng’eno confirmed that the deceased included ten adults and two children.

He also mentioned that the van was unfamiliar with the Meru-Embu route, contributing to its presence in the wrong lane at the time of the accident.

"The vehicle was new to the Meru-Embu road and was in the wrong lane when the accident happened. We have collected ten bodies while two injured passengers are recovering in hospital," Ng’eno said.

Ng’eno urged road users to exercise caution, particularly at black spots like Nithi Bridge, where accidents are more likely to occur.

A witness, part of a convoy accompanying the ill-fated van, recounted the terrifying moment when the group, returning to Kajiado after a parental blessing ceremony in Meru, saw the van veer off the road.

"We were heading back to Kajiado after the ceremony. When we reached the steep descent, I saw the vehicle in front of us veering off the road. It crossed the barriers separating the two lanes and collided with an oncoming pickup truck. There were 10 adults and two children in the vehicle," the witness said.

Eyewitnesses also noted that the van appeared to have suffered a brake failure as it descended into the Nithi Valley, leading to the devastating collision.