The exploded vehicle along Mombasa Rd./SCREENGRAB
A man narrowly escaped death on Saturday night after his car burst into flames along the busy Nairobi–Mombasa highway in Machakos County.
The incident happened at around 8:25 pm near Simba Cement in the Lukenya area, Athi River sub-county.
Police said the man, who was driving the Audi A4, was heading to Mombasa from Nairobi when the vehicle developed mechanical problems before suddenly exploding from the engine section.
“The vehicle developed a mechanical problem and shortly after, it exploded from the engine area, caught fire and was extensively burnt,” a police officer familiar with the case told the Star.
The officer spoke on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to address the media.
Bystanders and motorists rushed to assist, but the fire spread too quickly, leaving the car completely gutted.
It was not immediately clear whether the owner was travelling alone at the time of the incident, though police confirmed no injuries were reported.
Traffic officers from the Athi River police station arrived at the scene promptly, securing the area and clearing the burnt-out shell of the vehicle from the road. They also worked to ease traffic congestion caused by the blaze.
Police said investigations are underway to establish the exact cause of the explosion.