Accident scene in Parklands on SundayA 16-year-old driver is at the centre of a tragic road crash that claimed the lives of two pedestrians and left a 10-year-old boy fighting for his life in Nairobi.
This is as police revealed that at least 21 people died in separate road accidents across the country on Sunday.
The fatal crash occurred at about 6 pm in the Parklands area after the driver of the Toyota Wish travelling from the Deep Sea area towards Limuru Road lost control.
Police said the vehicle struck a drainage ditch, became airborne and veered off the road before ploughing into three pedestrians walking along the roadside.
One of the victims, 48-year-old Muchuki Mangaa, died on the spot, while another unidentified adult man also suffered fatal injuries.
A 10-year-old boy sustained serious head injuries and was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital, where he is receiving treatment, Nairobi police commander Issa Mohamud said.
The 16-year-old driver also suffered head injuries and a cut to the abdomen and was admitted to the same hospital.
Police visited the scene and launched investigations to establish the cause of the crash, including how the minor came to be behind the wheel.
The bodies of the two victims were moved to the City Mortuary, where one awaits formal identification and both will undergo post-mortem examinations.
In a separate tragedy just three hours later, two men were killed and three others injured after a pickup truck rammed into people repairing a broken-down vehicle along the Marsabit-Segel Road.
The accident happened at about 9 pm near the Dumpsite area when a Toyota Hilux travelling from Marsabit towards Segel allegedly swerved to avoid a head-on collision with a stationary Toyota Land Cruiser that had developed a mechanical problem.
Police said the disabled Land Cruiser had been parked on the road with warning signs to alert approaching motorists.
However, the Hilux veered into four people who were repairing the vehicle before crashing into the driver's door of the Land Cruiser and losing control.
Samuel Kinyua Kirugi, 35, died at the scene, while Stephen Wanjohi Njaramba, 41, succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at Marsabit County Referral Hospital.
Two other victims sustained serious injuries and were admitted to hospital.
The Hilux driver suffered a swollen forehead and multiple body injuries, while one passenger escaped with general body pains. Another passenger, Irene Atieno, was unhurt.
The bodies of the deceased were taken to the Marsabit County Referral Hospital mortuary pending post-mortem examinations, while the wrecked vehicles are expected to be towed to Marsabit Police Station for inspection.
Preliminary investigations indicate poor visibility caused by darkness and strong winds may have contributed to the crash, although investigations are ongoing.
The two crashes capped a deadly Sunday on Kenya's roads, with police reporting that at least 21 people were killed in separate accidents nationwide.
The victims included nine pedestrians, five pillion passengers, five motorcycle riders, one driver and one passenger. Another 37 people sustained serious injuries and were admitted to hospitals.
The latest fatalities add to growing concerns over the rising number of deadly road crashes despite ongoing efforts by authorities to curb the trend.
