Scene of accident where driver of a trailer died on the spot after it overturned along the Nairobi - Mombasa highway in Salama, Makueni County on May 16, 2026/ HANDOUT
One person is feared dead following a road traffic accident along the Nairobi–Mombasa highway.
Eyewitnesses said the man died at the scene after he lost control of a trailer he was driving near Salama Market in Makueni County on Saturday.
The incident is reported to have involved four trailers.
It is understood that a trailer travelling from Nairobi towards Mombasa overturned as the driver attempted to avoid a bodaboda rider who was reportedly joining the highway heading towards Kiu on the Kiu hill slope.
The sudden braking is believed to have led to a loss of control, after which the vehicle collided with three other trailers coming from the opposite direction.
The driver of the trailer is believed to have died on the spot.
The accident led to a major traffic snarl-up along the highway.
Police arrived at the scene, documented it and removed the body to the mortuary.
Normal traffic flow had resumed by press time.
The incident came barely a week after two people died on the spot and 12 others were injured in a similar crash along the same highway.
Athi River East Sub-County Police Commander Anderson Mbae said the two, a man and a woman, died at the scene after a 14-passenger matatu collided with a stationary trailer at the Total area in Katani, Machakos County, early Wednesday.
The incident was reported at the SNP Police Station as a fatal road traffic accident.
“It occurred at about 12:10 am at Total in Katani area along the Nairobi–Mombasa highway,” Mbae said.
According to police, the accident involved a Toyota Hiace matatu and a Mercedes-Benz Actros trailer.
Mbae said the deceased included a 45-year-old woman and an unidentified adult male. Both were confirmed dead at the scene.
The crash, according to Mbae, occurred after the matatu travelling from Nairobi towards Mombasa collided with the trailer. The vehicle had 16 passengers on board.
“Upon reaching the location of the accident, the driver rammed into the said trailer that had stalled on the road with no warning road signs. As a result of the accident, two died on the spot while twelve others sustained various injuries,” Mbae said.
The injuries included head cuts, fractured hands, deep cuts on foreheads and chest injuries.
The woman who died sustained head injuries.
Police responded to the scene, documented it and moved the bodies to Shalom Community Hospital mortuary, pending post-mortem and identification of the male passenger.
The wreckage was taken to the SNP Police Station pending inspection and further action.
