Nithi Bridge in Tharaka Nithi has now been flagged as a black spot severally after several accidents have occurred at the bridge. The most recent accident occurred on Sunday 24th July 2022 after a modern coast bus broke the guard rails on the bridge and plunged to the river banks.
Here is a list of all accidents that have occurred on this blackspot;
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Modern Coast Bus breaks guard rails- 24th July 2022
The bus had a total of 36 passengers on board and more than ¾ of the passengers lost their lives in the accident. This accident, at the time of writing, is confirmed to have claimed 33 lives. The bus registration number is KCF 614U. NTSA has now suspended all operations of the bus countrywide.
According to Tharaka Nithi County Police Commander, Donathan Chali, the bus was at a high speed and ignored slow-down traffic signs.
“The bus must have developed brake failure because it was moving at a very high speed when the accident happened,” said one of the witnesses.
4 years ago, at an interview with NTV, Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki admitted the bridge was a dangerous spot that needed reconstruction.
Shocking details about bus in Nithi accident emerge. Death toll hits 33
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Truck collides with PSV matatu – 2nd February 2021
An accident occurred between a PSV Matatu and a truck that were both coming from opposite directions. This Nithi blackspot accident left five people dead and one survivor.
Reports indicate that the truck in this accident had faulty brakes which resulted in the accident.
Alex Mugambi, the Tharaka Nithi Rescue Team Patron stated that only one passenger survived the crash.
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Construction Lorry collides with PSV matatu – 2019
At a similar spot in 2019, four people died and 11 others sustained injuries after a 14-seater matatu and lorry collided at a similar spot.
The driver of the lorry that was ferrying building blocks from Meru town to Chuka town hit the matatu that was ferrying ten people from Nairobi.
The residents recounted witnessing more than ten fatal accidents on the stretch between the notorious Nithi bridge and Chogoria town within that same year.
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Joy Kenya Company bus overturns at the Nithi Blackspot – April 2018
Two people died while 21 others were injured in road accidents near Maara River Bridge
Maara police boss Johnston Kabusia said a bus headed to Meru town from Nairobi overturned a few meters from the bridge shortly before 10 pm Saturday.
The bus driver had steered the vehicle into a bush as he tried to avoid plunging into the river after the brakes failed.
The report by NTV done in 2018 indicates that 40 people lost their lives in the year 2,000 at the bridge. Two years before that, another 58 people also died, raising questions about the design and safety of the crucial bridge.