Bungoma: Driver Burnt To Death After His Petroleum Tanker Hits Transformer, Bursts Into Flames

• A tanker ferrying fuel products burst into flames after an explosion at a spot along the Webuye-Malaba Highway on the morning of Wednesday, August 9
• The driver on board was burnt beyond recognition; the tanker hit a nearby transformer after losing control
• Firefighters from the Bungoma county government showed up at the scene to put the fire out

A driver behind the wheel of a petroleum tanker died after being engulfed in a fire that started after the mover burst into flames at a spot along the Webuye-Malaba Highway.

TV47 reports that the accident occurred at Sikata area where the tanker hit a power transformer after losing control.

Firefighters from the Bungoma county government showed up at the scene and extinguished the fire.

Motorists were counseled to use alternative routes as the county disaster managers strived to control the onlookers in their numbers.

Similar incidents

In March this year, four people in Magut, Uasin Gishu county lost their lives following a tanker accident.

Two people are reported to have died on the spot following the accident that happened along the Eldoret-Webuye Highway.

The other two were consumed by the flames while they were siphoning fuel from the tanker.

Residents claimed the tanker exploded when police officers fired teargas to disperse them from the area.

13 killed in Kisumu tanker explosion

In Kisumu, a few months back, 13 people were killed after a fuel tanker burst into flames near Argwings Kodhek High School in Gem Constituency along the Kisumu-Busia Road.

Eleven other people, including children, escaped with serious injuries in the horrific carnage.

Confirming the unfortunate occurrence, Gem sub-county police commander Moses Chacha said the victims were siphoning petrol from the overturned tanker.

A trailer, registration number KAV 768W, which was ferrying 20 tonnes of milk, avoided a head-on collision with the fuel tanker when the accident occurred.

The tanker was en route to Busia from Kisumu; as the trailer veered off the road, the tanker, unfortunately, hit it on the right side and rolled, emptying petrol by the roadside.

Unmindful of the lurking danger, members of the public rushed to the accident scene, where they started fetching the fuel.

Later, the tanker burst into flames which took firefighters from Busia County three hours to contain.