NTSA denies involvement in deadly Sachangwan accident

The National Transport and Safety Authority denied that its officers were chasing the 18-wheeler truck that caused the multiple car crash that killed 19 people at the dreaded Sachangwan area on Tuesday.

NTSA Director General Francis Meja told journalists that its officers were not in hot pursuit of the lorry but were instead trying to warn other motorists of the runaway truck along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway.

“Maybe the people who reported, because they saw a vehicle following the truck, could have been under an illusion that they were in pursuit. No, this is not true,” he said.

Mejja said that the officers and their vehicle was 500 meters away from the lorry at the time of the accident and asked members of the public to verify information and desist from speculation.

“We want to ask the public not to speculate. It’s horrible to crucify officers diligently doing their job without verifying information,” said Meja.

Earlier reports had indicated that the truck driver, who was heading to Nakuru, was being pursued by NTSA officials when he lost control and rammed into oncoming vehicles including a Modern Coast bus, four Nissan Matatus, a truck and several other private vehicles.