At least 8 killed in road accident in Kenya's coastal region

At least eight people were on Friday killed in grisly road accident in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa. Regional traffic commandant Joshua Omukata said the accident involved a 14-seater public service vehicle that collided head-on with private car. "The car was heading to Nairobi from Mombasa when it collided with the trailer that was trying to overtake another vehicle as it was coming towards Mombasa," Omukata told Xinhua by telephone on Friday. Omukata said the driver lost control and veered off the road before smashing into coming private car in the opposite lane, killing the 8 on the spot. The accident followed another accident on Thursday a day ago that claimed lives of 5 people among them, a tourist couple who were on vacation. It involved a trailer and a Salon car along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway in Samburu in the coastal district of Kinango. The couple was reportedly heading for an excursion in Masai Mara game reserve. The two Sandrock Eva Isabella, a Germany national and Swiss national Canon Roche Grahams died on the spot. They were staying at in Mombasa's south Coast upon arrivals into the country for holiday making. According to police, the four occupants in the private car were crushed to death as result of the impact of the accident. Preliminary police reports points to a human error in the 8:30 a.m. on Friday accident and have launched manhunt for the driver of the trailer who escaped immediately after the accident. Omukata said the accident could have been caused by carelessness, but said they were yet to establish the exact cause. "We are making efforts to trace him to assist us with investigation," he said. Kenya Red Cross Society said six men and two women were among those who were killed and nine injured in the 12:00 a.m. Friday accident. Kenya Red Cross Officer in charge of disaster coastal region Sadiq Kakai told Xinhua at the scene that the bodies have been moved to Coastal provincial hospital for identification, said Kakai. "We have managed to rescue 9 among them two months boy who was thrown out of the matatu window as a result of the accident," said Kakai. He sustained arm and head injuries and doctors are making frantic efforts to safe his life he added. The matatu was trying to overtake a lorry when the driver lost and suddenly if veered off the main highway and collided head-on with Toyota Probox,"said Salim Jamal an eyewitness. The police traffic department immediately issued an alert to motorists to be cautious especially on the major highways.The police said most of the roads are slippery as result of heavy rainfall that have been pounding the coastal city of Mombasa. The metrological department said rainfall will be experienced in parts of the region in the coming months.