One person was burnt to death and another seriously injured following a grisly road accident involving two trailers along the busy Nairobi–Mombasa Highway near Green Park Estate in Athi River.
Police said the accident occurred at around 5am when two trailers travelling from Mombasa toward Nairobi collided after one vehicle rammed into the other from behind.
The impact caused one of the trailers to burst into flames, trapping the driver inside the cabin. He died on the spot after being burnt beyond recognition.
His turnboy sustained serious injuries after being thrown out of the vehicle during the collision. He was rescued by members of the public and rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.
The driver and turnboy of the second trailer escaped the incident unharmed.
Eyewitnesses said the fire spread quickly, making rescue efforts difficult.
“We managed to rescue the turnboy who had been thrown onto the road, but the driver was trapped inside and burnt to ashes as the vehicle caught fire,” said an eyewitness at the scene.
The accident caused a major traffic snarl-up along the highway, forcing police to divert motorists to one lane as emergency teams worked to contain the situation.
Firefighters from the Machakos County Government responded and helped extinguish the fire.
Police have launched investigations into the cause of the accident as efforts to remove the wreckage continue.
Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution while using the highway.
