Ten pupils have died and 26 others injured following an accident involving a school bus and a truck along Mwingi-Garissa road on Saturday night.
St Gabriel’s Academy students were coming from a trip in Mombasa when the bus they were in collided with a truck.
Kitui Central OCPD Muthuri Mwongera said eight of the pupils died on the spot after the bus rolled several times after the collision, while two others died while receiving treatment in hospital.
The school bus which was hired from a different school was hit on the right side by a truck, rolled several times before plunging into the dry Kanginga River bed, which feeds into the Tyaa River.
The injured students were rushed Mwingi level IV hospital before being moved to Kenyatta National Hospital.
Mwongera confirmed that the driver of the truck was arrested while on the run 15 kilometers away from the scene and will appear in court on Monday to answer to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
“We have put him in custody and will be arraigned tomorrow to face charges of causing death by dangerous driving,” said Mwongera.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Kitui governor Charity Ngilu have sent out their condolences to the families that lost their loved ones urging drivers to be more careful on the roads.
In his message to the parents and guardians of the students, President Kenyatta said it was unfortunate that the lives of innocent pupils who are the future of this nation were lost.
“It is indeed sad and unfortunate that we lost those we look forward to secure the future of our great nation,” said the President.
The nine were among 50 passengers who included their teachers.
By the time of the accident six students, who had traveled with the others for the study tour, had just been dropped home.
