In the early hours of Saturday morning, a devastating accident occurred on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway at the notorious Salgaa black spot.
The collision, which took place around 3 am, involved a matatu from the Eldoret Cross Roads Shuttle Sacco and a trailer. The Kenya Red Cross confirmed the accident at 3:42 am through a social media post.
“A road traffic incident has been reported at Salgaa involving a trailer and a 14-seater matatu. Our first responders are en route to the scene,” the Kenya Red Cross posted on X.
Witnesses reported that the matatu, traveling from Eldoret towards Nakuru, collided with the rear of a mobile trailer. Four individuals—three women and one man—died instantly at the scene.
The remaining eight passengers sustained severe injuries and were quickly transported to Nakuru County and Referral Hospital for urgent medical care.
“Eight injured people were taken to Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital, thanks to the joint efforts of the Kenya Police, Kenya Red Cross, and well-wishers,” the Kenya Red Cross added.
As authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, the bodies of the deceased have been moved to the Nakuru County morgue for identification and subsequent postmortem procedures.
Salgaa Black Spot
The Salgaa black spot is a notoriously dangerous stretch of road on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway, plagued by numerous accidents and fatalities.
This section has earned a reputation as one of the most perilous roads in Kenya, with frequent head-on collisions, rollovers, and incidents involving trucks losing control.
Driver behavior, including speeding, reckless overtaking, and failure to follow traffic rules, significantly contributes to the high number of accidents at this location.
Similar Accident
Earlier this month, a similar accident occurred at Sobea along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway, claiming three lives. On Saturday, May 4, 2024, a 14-seater matatu collided with a trailer, resulting in the deaths.
Nakuru County Commander Samuel Ndanyi confirmed the incident, noting that the matatu, traveling from Nakuru to Eldoret, collided with a trailer that had veered off the road, severely damaging the front part of the vehicle.
The tragic incidents at the Salgaa black spot highlight the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to prevent further loss of life on this hazardous stretch of road.
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