At least 60 people escaped death by a whisker after a bus they were traveling in caught fire in the wake of Tuesday morning in Pinyiny area on the Narok – Mai Mahiu Road.
Narok County Police Commander Thomas Ngeiywa said the Migori-bound bus burst into flames at around 2am shortly after having a tyre burst.
The police commander said the fire might have been caused by a mechanical problem on the bus belonging to Habari Njema Connection Company.
Mr. Ngeiya said all passengers escaped unhurt but lost most of their belongings to the fire.The wreckage of the bus was towed to Ntulele Police Station.
The scene of the accident is a notorious black spot that has claimed many lives in road carnages. In 2013, a City to City bus crashed in Ntulele killying 42 people on the spot. Thirty three others were injured in the dawn accident.
The bus was travelling to Homa Bay from Nairobi when the accident occured at around 1am. “The driver failed to negotiate a sharp corner at Pinyinyi at around 1am,” said Narok police boss Patterson Maelo.
“He (driver) lost control of the vehicle and it rolled several times.”
The driver of the bus was charged before a Narok court with causing death by dangerous driving.
Mr Steve Mutia who surrendered to the police in Nairobi was charged with 42 counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
He was also charged with driving a vehicle not fitted with a speed governors, leaking left shock absorbers, driving a vehicle without safety belt buckles, missing two right rear wheels and worn out tyres.