Bus Plunges Off Bridge: Passenger’s Shocking Account Raises Road Safety Concerns

A passenger aboard a Dalip Chand and Son Limited bus has reported that the vehicle’s overspeeding led it to veer off the Dreketilailai Bridge and crash into a river on Monday afternoon. The injured passenger, Ritesh Chand, indicated that the bus lost control due to excessive speed, causing it to bounce off the right side of the bridge and plunge into the water around 5 PM.

Chand was taken to Labasa Hospital for treatment following the incident, which involved seven passengers onboard at the time. Reportedly, after dropping students off at Lekutulevu, the bus was returning to Labasa Town when the accident occurred. A police spokesperson, Warne Bautolu, confirmed that only one individual was hospitalized, treated, and subsequently discharged, and noted that investigations into the incident are still ongoing.

The general manager of the bus company, Rajneil Chandra, stated they would await the police findings before making any comments about the crash. Eyewitness Vinesh Prasad, who was grazing his bull nearby, described the sound of the crash as alarming and noted that passengers had started exiting the bus through the windows when he arrived at the scene.

Local resident Ramesh Chand echoed concerns about the driver’s speeding, mentioning he had previously raised safety concerns with the bus company’s managing director. He urged for enhanced safety measures, including the installation of safety rails and speed humps near the bridge to help prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Fiji Roads Authority expressed regret over the incident and emphasized the need for all drivers to exercise caution, particularly on rural roads like Dreketilailai. They reiterated that speed limit signs are crucial for driver awareness and safety.

This incident comes against the backdrop of increasing concerns around road safety in Fiji, particularly concerning public transport vehicles. Previous accidents have highlighted the urgent need for strict adherence to safety regulations among drivers. Although this crash led to injuries, the quick response of emergency services provides optimism for improved measures and awareness surrounding road safety in the community.