At least 48 people lost their lives in a tragic road accident that occurred in Londiani, western Kenya, on June 30. The incident took place when a lorry carrying a shipping container veered off the road and collided with multiple vehicles, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Local authorities and witnesses have confirmed the high death toll, while graphic footage aired by local broadcasters revealed the grim aftermath of the accident.
Tom Odera, the regional police commander stated that the official count of fatalities reached 48. Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scene, recounting how the speeding trailer forced drivers to swerve and evade a head-on collision. Unfortunately, a driver who attempted to overtake another vehicle was struck by the trailer, causing it to veer off the road and crash into other vehicles.
Peter Otieno, one of the drivers who narrowly escaped the collision, shared his account. He also mentioned witnessing approximately 20 bodies at the scene and additional casualties trapped beneath the wreckage.
"I saw a speeding oncoming trailer. I swerved and escaped hitting him head-on. The person who was behind me thought I wanted to buy something. He overtook me and that is when he was hit. The trailer went off the road and hit other vehicles. I saw about 20 bodies with my own eyes. There were other bodies that were under the vehicle," Otieno said.
The Kenya Red Cross reported that the lorry plowed through over six vehicles and ran over pedestrians, resulting in multiple injuries. More than 20 wounded individuals were rushed to local hospitals for medical treatment.
The tragic incident has left the nation in mourning, with Kenyan president William Ruto expressing his condolences to the affected families in a tweet.
"The country mourns with the families who have lost loved ones in a horrific road accident in Londiani. It is distressing that some of the fatalities are young people with a promising future and business people who were on their daily chores," the president wrote.
This road accident ranks among the deadliest to have occurred in Kenya in recent years. In a similarly devastating incident last year, 34 individuals perished in central Kenya when their bus veered off a bridge and plunged into a river valley. Such incidents highlight the pressing need for enhanced road safety measures and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to prevent further loss of life.
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