Six students of St Teresa Bikeke Boys High School were injured in a grisly road accident on Monday morning at Gatua area along the busy Kitale-Eldoret highway after breaking for midterm break, causing a traffic snarl-up.
The students had boarded a TukTuk from school on their way to Kitale town when they were injured in the accident.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident was caused by a boy believed to be a student at the same school who had arrived home and took his bicycle before unsafely entering the highway.
The boy, who died on the spot, joined the highway without due care and was hit by the TukTuk, which then lost control and crashed head-on with a trailer heading to Eldoret.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that the TukTuk driver was trying to avoid hitting the boy on the bicycle when he was struck by the lorry, resulting in the boy’s immediate death.
“This accident happened because the boy riding the bicycle entered the road without taking safety measures. The TukTuk driver tried hard to evade hitting him, and that is when the accident happened,” said Patrick Njoroge, an eyewitness.
The deceased is believed to have lost control of his bicycle and was hit by the TukTuk before it lost control and hit the trailer.
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Four victims of the tragic accident, including three students and the TukTuk driver, were critically injured and are receiving treatment at Kitale County Hospital.
According to Trans Nzoia West Police boss Patrick Gaitirira, all the students are being treated at Kitale County Referral Hospital emergency unit, some with minor injuries.
Police officers, led by Bikeke OCS Pius Ndunda and traffic officers, had a difficult time clearing traffic on the busy highway to allow rescue missions during the 11am incident.
Distressed parents later thronged the hospital to check on the condition of their children.
Worried parents told reporters that they rushed to the facility to learn the condition of the unidentified students receiving treatment.
Eyewitnesses decried that the stretch of road is narrow, making it dangerous for road users.
“This is a place where the road is very narrow, making this place a black spot. We want the government to expand this stretch to ensure the safety of motorists,” said Robert Nyongesa.
Pamela Sawenje, a matron at a neighbouring hospital who was at the scene of the accident, was overwhelmed with emotions and efforts to rescue the victims and take them to the hospital.
“This is very sad now that students had just left for the midterm break. We are praying for the boys for God to save their lives. We pray that the boy survives,” said Sawenje.
She cautioned public transport vehicles against overloading passengers during school breaks and urged them to ensure passenger safety.
The police boss confirmed to reporters that the victims are in stable condition and receiving treatment at the hospital.
“We are liaising with the school to follow up on the situation. All the students are in stable condition, and we hope for their quick recovery,” said Gaitirira.
By John Oroni
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