MERU, Kenya – Several people are feared dead and scores injured after a lorry reportedly lost control and rammed into vehicles, boda boda riders and pedestrians in the Riverland area of Meru on Thursday evening, October 8.
Meru County Commissioner George Omollo confirmed the accident, saying the number of casualties had yet to be established as emergency response teams rushed to the scene.
Preliminary reports indicated that the lorry lost its brakes before veering off the road and crashing into vehicles and people in the busy area.
Witnesses described a scene of destruction, with several vehicles, mostly private cars, badly damaged. Nearby businesses were also reportedly affected by the crash.
Images from the scene showed wrecked vehicles and shattered glass scattered across the road as rescue operations continued into the night.
Governor Mutuma Sends Condolences
Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma expressed sorrow over the incident, sending condolences to families who may have lost loved ones and wishing those injured a speedy recovery.
In a statement, Mutuma said emergency response teams from the county’s Department of Special Programmes were at the scene rescuing victims and providing emergency assistance.
“Every life matters. As we await verified information on the full extent of this tragedy, I appeal to members of the public to remain calm and allow emergency responders to carry out their work without obstruction,” he said.
Several injured victims were taken to Meru Level 5 Hospital for treatment. However, the number of people admitted and the severity of their injuries had not been officially confirmed by the time of publication.
Authorities were yet to establish the full extent of the damage and the number of people affected.
Meru Crash Follows Deadly Accidents In Migori And Makueni
The Meru accident comes amid a series of deadly road crashes reported across Kenya in recent days, renewing concerns over road safety and the dangers posed by vehicles that lose control.
On Wednesday, October 7, two people died and several others were injured after a lorry carrying hawkers reportedly plunged into River Kuja along the Masara-Sori road in Migori County.
The injured victims were reportedly rushed to St Joseph Mission Hospital in Migori for treatment as authorities responded to the incident.
The Migori crash came days after 17 people were killed in a multi-vehicle accident at Salama in Makueni County along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
The latest incidents have drawn attention to the devastating consequences of road crashes, particularly those involving heavy commercial vehicles and vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and boda boda riders.
