Kenyan bus tragedy - two years on

Bethlehem College parents Brian and Grace Johnston and ex-student Caitlin Dickson as they were remembered in a memorial service for the three, who were killed in a Kenya bus crash. Photo/file

Today marks the second anniversary of the mini-bus crash in Kenya that took the lives of three Tauranga people and a Kenyan.

Friends and families of 19-year-old college ex-pupil Caitlin Dickson, college parents Brian and Grace Johnston killed and Kenyan Christopher Mmata are expected to remember their loved ones in private today.

Caitlin and the Johnstons were part of a 19-strong group from the college that was tasked with building a classroom at Mahanga's Ark Quest Education Centre.

Bethlehem College principal Eoin Crosbie said there were no public or 'formal' memorials planned for today.

"There was something last year simply because it was the first anniversary," he said.

Mr Crosbie said many members of the Bethlehem College community were still also away on holiday before the school year began.

"I'm very sure the families will be remembering their loved ones but there will be nothing held at the school," he said.

Laste year the college named its rugby field Johnston's Sports Field in honour of Brian and Grace Johnston who were foundation parents of the school.

Details of what happened on that rainy day in Kenya were disclosed in the college investigation released two months after the crash.

It said that the group had set off from a visit to the Gavalagi High School at 1pm, following a heavy rainstorm.

It was still raining when a pre-arranged change of drivers took place 10 minutes into the journey, with student David Fellows replacing Mr Mmata. A few minutes later, the van rolled into a ditch.

The van, fitted with seats and seatbelts for 15 people, was carrying 17 people when the accident happened, with most not wearing their seatbelts.

Earlier reports detailed how by January 24, 13 of the uninjured and walking wounded had returned home, leaving six recuperating in Kenya until they were well enough to travel.