A grieving mother from Tailevu has shared her heart-wrenching story following a tragic hit-and-run accident that claimed the lives of her husband and uncle. Wainikiti Likuri, 36, expressed her deep sorrow, stating, “Just because of two cigarette rolls, my husband and uncle died.” The incident occurred early Sunday morning when a government-issued vehicle, reportedly taken without authorization by a 17-year-old relative, struck her husband, Osea Baleasavu, as he attempted to flag down a taxi after a night out.
Likuri recounted the devastating moment she learned of the incident, stating, “I was told he was in the mortuary… He wasn’t supposed to die like this.” Osea, who had been a loving father figure to her four children, was married to Wainikiti for a little over two years. She expressed the financial burden her family now faces, saying, “We don’t have much, no savings, now I have to think about mortuary and funeral costs.”
In a plea to drivers, Wainikiti highlighted the broader impact of such accidents on families: “People who drive need to understand that when you cause an accident, the victim’s whole family suffers. That boy is still alive, but we lost two precious lives. We will never be the same.”
This tragic event echoes similar incidents reported recently involving unlicensed young drivers and government vehicles, prompting urgent calls for accountability and road safety considerations. In one instance, another family faced mourning when a 17-year-old driver struck two men, leading to community discussions about the responsibilities that come with driving, especially for minors.
The sharing of these stories brings hope amidst sorrow, as they can foster community awareness about road safety, ultimately striving for policy changes that will ensure safer roads for everyone. Advocating for responsible driving could be a step towards preventing similar tragedies in the future and creating a more conscientious driving culture within communities.
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