16 injured as matatu crashes on Nithi bridge in Meru

Sixteen people were injured when a driver lost control of a matatu and it rammed the guardrails on the notorious Nithi bridge on the Meru-Nairobi highway.

Seven of the injured are students at Egoji Teachers Training College who were heading home on Friday for August holidays.

The injured were taken to Chogoria Mission Hospital, where they received treatment.

The hospital's Chaplain, the Reverend Roy Kamau, said most passengers suffered fractures and soft-tissue injuries.

BRAKES FAILED
Chuka traffic commander Galale Mnazi said the driver of the vehicle, which was heading to Nairobi from Meru, said he lost control when the brakes failed and the vehicle veered off the road.

Meru South deputy police boss John Kilonzo told Nation.co.ke that preliminary investigations point to brake failure.

"Vehicle inspection will, however, reveal the true cause of the accident," said Mr Kilonzo.