Eighteen individuals received medical care at Lautoka Aspen Hospital following a bus collision with a four-wheel drive vehicle in Lautoka yesterday afternoon. The accident occurred around 2:45 PM on King’s Road in Vitogo, when the four-wheel drive vehicle, which had just exited Vitogo Road, collided with a Goundar Shipping bus that was en route from Lautoka to Ba.
The bus was carrying passengers heading to Ellington Wharf to catch a 6 PM inter-island vessel bound for Vanua Levu. According to police spokesperson Constable Wame Bautolu, the collision caused the bus to overturn onto its side, impacting the oncoming four-wheel drive vehicle.
The driver of the four-wheel drive was trapped but was subsequently rescued by officers from the National Fire Authority. The bus driver, who is from Saweni, sustained serious injuries but is currently in stable condition.
Family members of passengers were seen outside the hospital, with Aarish Rahman sharing that his uncle, Abdul Khalik Rahman, was among those injured. He reported that his uncle would undergo a CT scan after suffering four broken ribs and would be admitted for further care.
As of last night, a heavy police presence was noted at the emergency area, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.
The resilience of both the emergency services and the community in response to such accidents serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance on the roads. As recovery efforts continue for the injured, it is hoped that their conditions will improve swiftly. This incident highlights the need for road safety awareness and careful driving practices to prevent future collisions.
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