12 Lives Tragically Taken in Tharaka Nithi Bridge Accident, Including Mother and Child

In the early hours of Sunday morning, a tragic road accident at the Nithi Bridge in Tharaka Nithi County claimed the lives of 12 people, including 8 women, 2 men, and 2 children. The victims were all members of Vision Group, a self-help group, who were returning from a ceremony in Kariana, Meru, to their homes in Kajiado.

Emily Nzasu, one of the survivors and a fellow member of the group, recounted the harrowing experience. According to her, their vehicle had almost veered off the road but was quickly brought back under control by the driver. Unfortunately, the ten-seater vehicle following them, which was carrying ten adults and two children, was not as fortunate. The driver attempted to overtake Emily’s matatu but lost control, causing the vehicle to swerve into the opposite lane. The vehicle then collided head-on with a Hilux pickup truck traveling towards Meru.

In the immediate aftermath of the collision, Emily and other passengers from her vehicle rushed to the scene in an effort to rescue their colleagues. Despite their best efforts, the situation proved overwhelming until police and firefighters arrived to provide assistance. Two survivors were transported to Chogoria and Chuka hospitals for specialized treatment.

Tharaka Nithi County Police Commander Zacchaeus Ng’eno expressed concern over the rising number of accidents at the Nithi Bridge, despite clear warnings and signage in the area. He urged drivers to exercise more caution when navigating this dangerous spot.

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The families of the deceased are grieving the loss of their loved ones. Among the victims were Anne Njeri and her one-year-old daughter. Anne had informed a relative that she was attending a self-help group meeting in Meru and would return the following day. Her father-in-law, Julius Kamau, shared that they received the heartbreaking news of the accident at 3 a.m. and are devastated by the loss of Anne and her daughter.

This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers on our roads and the need for heightened vigilance to prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future.