Mother, child killed after truck ploughs into pedestrians in Mombasa

Two people, including an eight-year-old child, were killed and another injured after a truck crashed into pedestrians along Mikindani-Aldina Road in Mombasa early Saturday morning.

The accident occurred at about 4am in the Kibaoni area near Handshake Bar, when the pedestrians were reportedly waiting for a boda boda to take them home after attending a night vigil service, Coast Regional Traffic Enforcement Officer Ms Asha Wario confirmed.

Those killed were identified as Rebecca Wambua, about 35, and her child, Alex Kalonzo, about eight.

A third pedestrian, Peter Ndururi Wachira, 33, sustained general body pains and physical bruises and was rushed to Mikindani Hospital for treatment.

Ms Wario said the truck, registration number KCX 905F/ZB 7213, was being driven by Juma Mwambeu Kaingu, a security guard at Ngamia 1 Yard, who was allegedly not licensed to drive.

She said the driver had been requested by another motorist to pull the truck forward to allow the vehicle to enter the yard.

“The driver could not manage to control the vehicle and drove past the pedestrian path at speed into the tunnel, where he crushed pedestrians,” Ms Wario said.

Ms Wario said police officers visited and documented the scene before the bodies were moved to the Coast General Funeral Home, where they are awaiting postmortem examinations.

The truck was towed to Changamwe Yard pending inspection.

The driver was arrested and detained pending arraignment in court.

Police are also pursuing the owner of the vehicle over allegations of allowing an unauthorised driver to take control of it.

“Efforts to trace the owner and charge him for allowing an unauthorised driver to take charge of the vehicle are underway,” Ms Wario said.

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