
The Volkswagen car model caught fire following a road crash in Athi River, Machakos county, early Sunday.
Athi River East Subcounty police commander Anderson Mbae said the accident involved two motor vehicles, the private car and a trailer.
It was reported to the Athi River police station as a non-injury road traffic accident incident report.
"The accident happened at about 7:15 am at the Athi River Bridge along Nairobi - Mombasa highway near Crystal Rivers Estate involving a motor vehicle Volkswagen Golf driven and a trailer of Mercedes Actros make," Mbae said.
Mbae said both the motor vehicles were moving towards Mombasa in the general direction when the car rammed into the trailer, leading to the accident.
"On reaching the location of the accident, the car's driver failed to keep distance and rammed into the rear of the trailer. As a result of the impact, the car burst into flames," Mbae said.
Traffic officers from the Athi River police station responded to the scene, documented and processed it.
The police boss said there was no injury reported in the incident.
The fire was extinguished by the Machakos County Government brigade, and normal traffic flow resumed.
The wreckage was removed to the Athi River police station.
The incident happened hours after two people died in a road accident involving a tuk-tuk along the Machakos - Wote Road on Saturday evening.
Police said the duo died on the spot and several others were seriously injured following the accident involving a TUKTUK and a lorry in the Katoloni area along the Machakos–Wote road.
According to the chairman of the Machakos TUKTUK Operators' Association, Joseph Kioko, the deceased is the TUKTUK driver who was travelling from Machakos town towards Kimutwa area, and one of the passengers who was in the TUKTUK.
Several victims of the accident were rushed to Machakos Level 5 Hospital for treatment.
Incidents of motor vehicles bursting into flames while on roads have become rampant lately.
In September 2025, for instance, a motor vehicle, Audi A4, exploded at5c Lukenya area along the Mombasa Road at about 8.25 pm.
Police said the car caught fire after it developed a mechanical problem in the engine area.
The car was completely gutted, but its driver escaped unhurt.