15 Hurt Following Multi-vehicle Accident In Blue Post.

More than a dozen people were last evening rushed to Thika Level 5 Hospital following an eight-vehicle collision at a notorious accident blackspot near Blue Post Hotel Thika.

The accident happened shortly before 5pm Tuesday when a speeding lorry supposedly lost its breaks, slid out of control and crushed into several vehicles.

"This lorry lost its breaks and hit the rear of a 14-seater van, consequently causing 6 more vehicles which were stuck in the jam. We rushed and got the victims out of the vehicles, transferring them to other vehicles to Thika Level 5 Hospital," said Peter Murigi, the chairperson of Blue Post bodaboda riders.

The vehicles were moving towards Nairobi direction where a long traffic snarl up had developed on the service lane into Thika Town.

"The frequent accidents here are usually caused by this jam that is a result of the narrow Chania bridge on your entry to Thika," said Murigi.

Looking at the damage that had taken place at the accident scene, one would imagine the worst but by God's grace, majority of those who were involved just sustained minor injuries.

People we spoke to raised concern over the frequency of accidents in the area. This danger stretch of road has been a sight of similar accidents in the past few months which claimed lives, including those of the two pupils from Moi Academy last June.

In the same month, 4 people died after a lorry carrying sand lost its breaks and hit a Meru-bound PSV matatu. Another man died when the saloon car he was driving lost control and hit the guard rails of Thika River Bridge.

In August 2015, eight people died after a saloon car hit a bus, causing it to veer off the road and overturn.

Those who we spoke to said that other than the perpetual traffic jams, overspeeding as the vehicles were moving downhill was another possible cause of the accidents. They also suspected intoxicated drivers and some drivers falling asleep on the wheels, considering that this was a highway that constituted of drivers who had travelled long distances.

For the small vehicle drivers, they said that they were guilty of driving while engaging in their cellphones.

They appealed to the government to monitor the situation and re-design a permanent road safety enhancement scheme for this blackspot.