Collision with Fuel Leak and Injured Passenger at Night
At 21:30 on a dark, rainy stretch of the Nairobi–Mombasa highway, a 33-seat PSV collides with the rear of a stationary lorry that has no reflective triangles out. The PSV's front is crushed, the driver's door is jammed, and the engine is still running. A strong smell of diesel comes from under the lorry. Three passengers are screaming, one is unconscious and not responding, and another has an open leg fracture with heavy bleeding. The conductor is shouting and passengers are trying to force the rear door open. The road curves just before the crash site, and oncoming headlights are visible 200 m away. Your phone has 20% battery and there is no network signal at first. A passing boda boda stops and offers to take the most injured passenger to hospital.
1. What are your immediate priorities in the first two minutes?
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First, prevent a second crash. If you are able, switch off the PSV engine, turn on hazard lights, and check for fire or fuel ignition sources. Do not smoke or use a phone close to the diesel. Get the conductor and able passengers to place warning triangles or torches behind the crash site on the curve, but only if it is safe. Move walking wounded away from the vehicles and the fuel spill, uphill and upwind if possible.
Call 999 or 112; if there is no signal, send the boda boda rider to the nearest police post or call point with a clear message: location, number of casualties, fuel leak, and vehicles involved. Do not move the unconscious passenger unless there is fire or traffic danger. Do not let the boda boda take the most injured passenger yet.
2. How would you manage the unconscious passenger and the open leg fracture?
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For the unconscious passenger, check responsiveness, airway, breathing, and circulation. If breathing is absent or abnormal, start CPR if trained and continue until help arrives. If breathing is present but the airway is at risk, use a recovery position only if there is no suspected spinal injury; in a vehicle crash, assume spinal injury and keep the head aligned unless the airway cannot be maintained.
For the open leg fracture with heavy bleeding, put on gloves if available, apply direct pressure with a clean dressing or cloth to the bleeding point, and elevate the leg if no fracture movement worsens pain. Do not push bone ends back in. Cover the wound, check circulation beyond the injury, and keep the patient warm. Do not give food or drink. The boda boda should not carry a seriously injured patient without spinal control and bleeding control unless there is immediate fire risk; use it only for a walking casualty or to fetch help.
3. What should you report, and how should you handle evidence and liability?
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Report to the police immediately or as soon as signal allows. Give the location, direction of travel, vehicles, number of casualties, fuel leak, and whether the lorry had warning triangles. Do not admit fault or speculate about blame at the scene. Exchange names, vehicle registration, insurance details, and contact details with the lorry driver if present. Record the time, weather, road layout, lighting, and the position of the vehicles; take photos if safe.
Preserve the scene until police arrive if it is safe to do so, but prioritise evacuation from the fuel risk. Note the names of witnesses, including the boda boda rider. Report the crash to the operator and insurer. The missing reflective triangles on the stationary lorry are relevant evidence, but the PSV driver's speed and lookout will also be investigated.