Thirteen students received medical attention at Vunidawa Hospital following an accident involving a carrier vehicle in Navuniyasi, Naitasiri, yesterday morning. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Livai Driu, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, leading it to veer off the road.
Details about the incident remain limited, but police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident, which involved students traveling to their annual examinations. Unfortunately, a cow was also believed to have been killed during the mishap.
The Ministry of Education has not yet commented on the situation, but this incident has amplified concerns regarding the safety of school children, particularly those in rural regions and maritime islands who rely on carriers for transportation to school.
This is not the first such incident; in July, a similar accident occurred involving a rural service licence carrier carrying 11 students from Adi Maopa Secondary School in Vanuabalavu, Lau, which lost control and went down a hill near Daliconi Village. In that incident, six students required treatment at Lomaloma Hospital.
As investigations continue, it is hoped that authorities will take necessary steps to enhance the safety of student transportation, ensuring that such accidents do not reoccur in the future. Promoting safer travel methods for students is crucial, particularly in regions where they face unique transportation challenges.
In summary, the recent accident involving a student carrier raises important questions about student safety and emphasizes the need for stricter regulations and improved transport options for children in rural areas.
Leave a comment