As we come close to Roots academy from Nakuru town, two fires are lit along the Nakuru – Nairobi Highway.

There are greasy spots on the road which is littered with shuttered glass and car debris, with oil spreading on the road shoulder.

Simon Chege, a road maintenance officer is busy clearing what was left behind in the fatal 7 am accident.

Simon Chege clearing debris left behind during an accident between a Mercedes and truck on August 13 ,2024.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

“Normally I report to work at 6.30 am. As I was heading to work, I heard that there was a traffic accident in the area where I clean up. Promptly, I took a bike and on arriving at the scene I found police officers who seemed to be on transit parked by the road side helping the accident victims,” he says.

He notes that the family of six were badly injured, thereby, making the process of removing the deceased from the car quite difficult.

"The fire fighters had to cut through the metal to access the victims inside the vehicle. It was a very traumatising scene," Chege says sadly.

Those who passed on were the mother Margaret Atieno, nanny Celestine Atamba, three children; Jayson Ambani, 4 and 6month old twins Evan Millan Ambani and Ethan Milan Ambani.

According to Gilgil sub county police commander Jamleck Ngaruiya, the Mercedes which was coming from Gilgil direction heading towards Nakuru, was overtaking when it collided with a lorry that was coming from Nakuru.

Gilgil Sub county police commander, Jamleck Ngaruiya speaks on the accident that claimed five lives along Nakuru -Nairobi highway on August 13, 2024.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

“The driver of the Mercedes left his lane to overtake when it collided with the lorry head on. The bodies are currently at the Gilgil sub county hospital mortuary. The vehicles involved in the accident towed to Gilgil police station for investigation," he said

He further mentions that of the six family members, five perished on the spot while the driver survived the crash and was rushed to hospital for treatment,” he notes.

By evening, Mtaa Wangu was able to link up with the family of the victims who shared that the family of six was heading to their rural home to visit their grandmother in Kakamega.

According to the cousin Kevin Obibo, Christopher Ambani ,35, was traveling in the company of his family and their Nanny before the perished

Kevin Obibo a cousin to Christopher Ambani, during a press briefing on August 13, 2024.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

“Ambani left Nairobi at 4 am heading to Kakamega before the accident happened. On board with him was his wife, four-year-old son and his twins who were below 6 months and the nanny,” he notes.

He says Mr Ambani sustained fractures on the hands and leg.

The lone survivor has since been transferred from St. Joseph hospital to another facility in Kitengela where he is supposed to undergo surgery in his arm and leg.

"It's a blow to the family that they perished yet they were being waited for at home. We are in the process of informing the rest of the family," he says.

A Mercedes Benz, six-month-old twins and devastated family members

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Purity Kinuthia