Bus brakes fail before it went over cliff, killing 34 onboard, Kenya officials say
A bus crashed over a bridge — killing 34 people onboard, Kenya authorities said.
A cross-country bus in a central Kenya city began driving its designated route Sunday evening, July 24, heading for Mombasa, a city on the southern coast about 10 to 12 hours’ drive away, the operating company, Modern Coast Express, said in a news release.
The bus never made it to its destination.
About an hour into the ride, the bus approached the Nithi Bridge, a narrow road with sharp turns, curving along a cliff’s edge high above the Nithi River, the Associated Press reported.
The bus “must have developed brake failure, because it was at a very high speed when the accident happened,” police officials said later, according to the Associated Press.
With 45 people aboard, the bus plunged over the cliff and fell over 130 feet, crashing into the river below, Africa News reported.
By Monday, July 25, officials reported 34 fatalities, according to Reuters, saying, “We have lost 14 women, 18 men and two girls,” .
Officials rescued 11 others who were taken to the hospital for treatment, Reuters reported.
Modern Coast Express said in a news release on Sunday that: “We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish quick recovery to those injured and undergoing treatment.”
Monday, the company updated their news release, saying “Our team is on the ground for further assistance with the families.”
The National Transport and Safety Authority indefinitely suspended Modern Coast Express, from operating , according to a July 26 news release.
About 110 miles northeast of Nairobi, Nithi Bridge in Tharaka Nithi County is a “known accident-prone spot,” Africa News reported.
Authorities are investigating the crash as well as the bus company to identify measures needed to prevent further crashes, according to the news release.
