Another accident has once again hit the Mai Mahiu route, with several people surviving a terrifying collision involving multiple vehicles, including an overturned truck.
This accident, which occurred just two days after a similar incident involving a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) trailer, has reignited concerns over the growing dangers of this stretch of road.
Eyewitnesses reported that a driver of a Noah vehicle, attempting a risky overtake of a long-distance truck, became trapped between two large trucks. The result was a multi-vehicle collision that left the Noah severely damaged, especially at the rear. The truck in front was also impacted, while one of the trucks rolled off into the escarpment.
Videos circulating online show the chaos that followed, with survivors visibly shaken and expressing disbelief at how they escaped alive. One man, bleeding from the head, voiced his uncertainty over how he survived the ordeal.
A screengrab of the overturned truck at Mai Mahiu, September 13.
Photo
Courtesy
While many were injured, no fatalities had been reported by the time of publication.
This accident comes on the heels of a deadly crash in the same area, in which an LPG trailer lost control, leading to the death of one individual and injuries to several others. The LPG trailer smashed into three vehicles, including a matatu and a hearse, both of which ended up in catastrophic condition.
The matatu, a 14-seater, was found upside down after rolling down the escarpment. Miraculously, there were survivors, though some were trapped inside the vehicle for a time before being rescued.
The recurring accidents along the Mai Mahiu route have led many to question the safety of this vital corridor.
As more traffic pours into the area, congestion has increased, causing frustration among motorists and heightening the risk of collisions.
On social media, users have highlighted the build-up of traffic in the area following this most recent crash, with some urging fellow drivers to avoid the route altogether.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has long warned of the dangers posed by the country’s roads, particularly during weekends and public holidays. Their statistics show that more than 3,000 lives are lost annually to road accidents, many of them preventable.
The Mai Mahiu route, in particular, has gained notoriety as a hotspot for fatal incidents.
The cause of this latest crash is still being investigated, but the condition of the vehicles and the narrow margins for error on the road suggest that speeding and reckless overtaking played a role.
Motorists have been urged to exercise extreme caution when travelling on this stretch, especially as its steep escarpments and heavy truck traffic make for particularly treacherous driving conditions.
Residents of Mai Mahiu town in Naivasha at an accident scene after trailer rammed into 14-seater matatu
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Ngige
