Yala Bridge accident: Death toll rises to 13 as search for oil tanker driver continues

The death toll from Wednesday's Yala Bridge accident on the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway has risen to 13 after three more people succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment.

Survivors of the freak accident narrated their horrific experience, with calls for stern action to be taken against the tanker driver for careless driving.

They say a split-second decision by the driver of the tanker to overtake has cost 13 lives so far.

"I heard a big bang. Kuamka nikajipata nimerushwa nje. Lower body part ilitokezea kwa boot na upper body iko ndani ya gari," said a survivor.

Another added, "Niliskia bang nikaona giza. The next thing niko chini. Nilipata fahamu nikajikaza nikatoka nje ya gari."

"Wengine walinilalia. Sikua na nguvu ya kusimama. Miguu zote zilivunjika," another survivor lamented.

Twenty injured passengers were admitted to the Kakamega Referral Hospital, with doctors attending to them overnight, but it has not been without additional casualties.

"Two succumbed, one female died on arrival. The other one who succumbed was a male. The others are responding well to treatment," said the doctor.

At the Kakamega funeral parlour, family and relatives arrived in earnest to identify the bodies of their loved ones.

Bereaved mother: "Nilikua nafikira mtoto wangu anakuja. Naangalia njia hafiki. Nikauliza dadangu kama ako kwake akasema hapana. Kukuja hapa. Nimempata hapa mortuary. Huyo alikua mtoto wangu," a bereaved mother said.

Police are still searching for the driver of the tanker, who fled the scene after the accident.