One killed, 3 injured as parked truck rolls into market

Damage at Ortum market along Kitale–Lodwar highway after a parked truck rolled into it and destroyed shops, March 23, 2019. PHOTO | OSCAR KAIKAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The vehicle hit a Nissan before ramming into shops and other structures.
  • Several accidents have taken place in the area, the last case being that of a vegetable seller who was hit along the road.

One person died while three were seriously wounded when a parked truck rolled into Ortum market along Kitale–Lodwar highway on Friday evening.

The driver had stopped at the market to buy sugar while transporting goods from Kapenguria to Lodwar.

The vehicle hit a Nissan before ramming into shops and other structures.

Survivor Moses Kodeny, a Turkwel ward administrator who was in the Nissan, said it was hit as they alighted.

"We had tried to open the doors but could not. In the process of getting out through the window, the vehicle was hit," he said.

West Pokot Police Commander Mathew Kuto said police launched an investigation.

Damage at Ortum market along Kitale–Lodwar highway after a parked truck rolled into it and destroyed shops, March 23, 2019. PHOTO | OSCAR KAIKAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Damage at Ortum market along Kitale–Lodwar highway after a parked truck rolled into it and destroyed shops, March 23, 2019. PHOTO | OSCAR KAIKAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

SOLUTIONS

Several accidents have taken place in the area, the last case being that of a vegetable seller who was hit along the road.

To curb the incidents, Mr Kodeny asked the government to erect bumps in order to prevent motorists from speeding.

While noting that the road is steep, traders at the market asked the government to redesign it.

The matatu that a rolling truck hit at Ortum market along Kitale–Lodwar highway on March 23, 2019. PHOTO | OSCAR KAIKAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A view of the truck that rolled into Ortum market along Kitale–Lodwar highway, destroying shops and other structures, March 23, 2019. PHOTO | OSCAR KAIKAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A view of the truck that rolled into Ortum market along Kitale–Lodwar highway, destroying shops and other structures, March 23, 2019. PHOTO | OSCAR KAIKAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

However, opinion leader Noel Long’onyiro noted the risk in erecting structures along the road.

One Samson Rotich said, “We have lost many people at this place so we need action to be taken."

Those injured were taken to Ortum Mission Hospital and the body to Kapenguria County Hospital mortuary.