Accident Alert - Three killed as timber truck plunges onto Arimi Bridge in Molo

Emergency services were called to the Arimi Bridge in Nakuru County on Saturday night following a fatal road traffic accident involving a heavy goods vehicle. Three people died instantly when a trailer transporting timber veered off the road and crashed onto the bridge structure. 

The incident occurred in the Amco area within Molo Sub-county along the busy Molo–Njoro highway. Preliminary reports indicate the driver lost control of the vehicle before it left the carriageway. The impact of the plunge was severe, and first responders arriving at the scene confirmed that all individuals on board the truck succumbed to their injuries at the site.

The Molo–Njoro road is a critical link for transporting agricultural and forest products within Nakuru County. Locals have previously raised concerns regarding the safety of specific sections of this route, particularly near bridge approaches where heavy loads can challenge vehicle braking systems. The Arimi Bridge serves as a vital crossing point, and the wreckage of the trailer caused significant disruption to the flow of traffic as recovery teams worked through the night.

Police from the Molo Sub-county command arrived at the scene shortly after the crash to coordinate the removal of the bodies and oversee the clearing of the wreckage. The vehicle, which was heavily loaded with logs, sustained extensive damage during the fall. Officers have commenced investigations to determine if mechanical failure or driver error contributed to the trailer losing its trajectory before the bridge.

Nakuru County remains a focal point for road safety discussions in Kenya due to the high volume of transit trailers moving between the Rift Valley's timber-rich zones and urban processing centers. The Arimi Bridge site has been cordoned off as engineers assess if the impact caused any structural damage to the bridge abutments or the guardrails that were breached during the accident. 

The bodies of the deceased were moved to a local mortuary for identification and post-mortem examinations. Authorities have urged motorists, particularly those operating heavy machinery and transport trucks, to exercise caution when navigating the winding sections of the Molo–Njoro road, especially during night hours when visibility and reaction times are reduced.