Twelve people have been reported to have lost their lives in a tragic road accident in the Nithi Bridge, Tharaka Nithi County. Among the deceased were two minors, while the other victims included eight women and two men.
Tharaka Nithi police commander Zaccheus Ng'eno confirmed the incident. The accident involved a privately hired Toyota Hiace, heading to Nairobi, and a Toyota Hilux traveling towards Chogoria.
"It is another dark evening that we have had an accident. We are confirming that we have collected 12 bodies from the scene, and two others injured," said Ng'eno.
The county police boss said the tragic crash involved two vehicles headed to Nairobi and Meru.

Tharaka Nithi County police commander Zaccheus Ng'eno spoke to the press at the scene of the accident. Ng'eno explained that the driver of the Nairobi-bound vehicle was unfamiliar with the road, which caused him to swerve out of his lane and collide with the oncoming car headed towards Meru.



"Preliminary investigations show that the motor vehicle coming from the Meru had not regularly used this road. We may assume that the driver did not take to his lane as expected hence the head-on collision," said Ng'eno.

Two survivors, who narrowly escaped death with varying degrees of injuries, were rushed to hospitals in Chogoria and Chuka for treatment.
Tharaka Nithi County police commander Zaccheus Ng'eno urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, particularly when driving on unfamiliar routes.

Alex Mugambi, an official from the Tharaka Nithi County Fire and Rescue Department, also confirmed the accident. Mugambi warned the public against gathering at accident scenes, noting that doing so can hinder rescue operations and increase the risk of further accidents.
The occupants of the Hiace were en route to Nairobi after attending a friend’s event in Meru.