Two families are mourning the loss of their 17-year-old sons after a tragic accident on Wailoaloa Road early Sunday morning. The victims, Samisoni Bale and Salesi Vakatawa, both students at Lelean Memorial School in Nausori, were passengers in a vehicle when the collision occurred.
The driver, an aircraft engineer in his 30s, is currently in police custody. Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew highlighted the severe consequences of ignoring road safety regulations. Initial investigations suggest that speeding and alcohol use may have played a role in the incident.
Salesi’s mother, Adi Halaiwalu Vika, spoke of the family’s shock and heartbreak. “I have six daughters, and he was my only son. I had high hopes for him,” she said. “We expected him to return by 8 PM, only to receive the devastating news.”
Samisoni’s mother, Mere Makitalena, 47, recalled the last conversation with her son, which took place Saturday afternoon when he returned from working in a sugarcane field. “He mentioned he was going to Martintar and would be back later. He was taking a break before starting his education again next year,” she remembered with tears.
Police reported that both boys suffered fatal injuries after the vehicle, which did not have a canopy, veered off the road and overturned near a tree. They, along with two other passengers in the vehicle’s tray, were thrown from the car during the accident. The driver allegedly lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle.
The remaining three passengers were transported to Nadi Hospital with serious injuries. The families are currently awaiting post-mortem results to proceed with funeral arrangements.