Police Probe Mbagathi Road Crash After Vehicle Bursts Into Flames on Footbridge
A strange road accident along Mbagathi Road in Nairobi has left many residents and motorists searching for answers after a vehicle caught fire on a pedestrian footbridge early on Saturday morning.
The incident happened at about 6am near the flyover close to the Riara University turn-off.
According to reports, the vehicle was carrying three people when the accident occurred. Images and videos shared online showed the badly damaged vehicle lying on its side on a section of the footbridge stairs while flames engulfed it.
The circumstances that led to the crash remain unclear. Witnesses at the scene said the vehicle appeared to have left the main road before somehow making its way onto the stairs leading to the pedestrian flyover.
It eventually came to a stop on the footbridge, where it caught fire.
Videos recorded by members of the public showed large flames rising from the wreckage as people gathered nearby. Several motorists also stopped to watch as emergency efforts began.
The unusual location of the vehicle has raised many questions, with police now expected to determine exactly what happened before the crash.
One witness claimed that a police officer who arrived at the scene was urgently calling for assistance while trying to rescue a passenger believed to be trapped inside the burning vehicle.
However, the witness said the officer was unable to reach the occupant because of the intensity of the fire.
As videos of the incident spread across social media, claims emerged that three occupants were trapped inside the vehicle and died in the blaze.
However, authorities had not confirmed those reports by the time the incident was reported. Police had also not released official details regarding the number of people inside the vehicle or whether there were any fatalities.
Rescue teams and other emergency personnel were later deployed to the area to manage traffic and respond to the situation.
Investigators are expected to examine the scene and establish what caused the accident, how the vehicle left the roadway, and how it ended up on the elevated footbridge.
The incident has shocked many Nairobi residents, with the dramatic footage continuing to attract attention online as investigations begin.