A family’s plans to send their daughter to Australia for her studies have been tragically interrupted following an accident in Lautoka on Sunday morning. Vani Ratudradra, who was anticipated to join her twin sister later this year, lost her life in the incident, which also involved four others.
The sudden loss has left the family heartbroken as they cope with the devastation that has shattered their hopes for Vani’s future. According to police spokesperson Ana Naisoro, Ms. Ratudradra was one of the four passengers in the vehicle that was driven by a 24-year-old. Naisoro reported that the driver lost control while traveling along Queens Road near Navutu, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and crash into a post.
Vani Ratudradra was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver and three passengers were taken to Lautoka Aspen Hospital with serious injuries. Her brother, Sela, revealed that he received a call around 1 a.m. on Sunday informing him of the accident involving his two sisters.
“I rushed to the scene, disregarding the chaos around me with police and fire officers; my only focus was to save my sister and get her to the hospital,” he recounted. “Just last month, she had been discharged from the hospital after a serious illness, which is why I was determined to help her.”
Sela mentioned that two of his sisters were in the vehicle, noting, “Vani died, and another sister is currently in the Trauma Ward at Lautoka Hospital.” The family was returning home from a 21st birthday celebration.
“We always ensured Vani was well taken care of after her hospital discharge and that a family member accompanied her wherever she went,” he added. The girls were in the company of other friends from their area.
Vani was a former student of Jasper Williams High School and was set to reunite with her twin sister, who is studying in Australia, by the end of the year. They are the youngest among eight siblings. Their mother, Losalini Ratudradra, remains in shock from the tragedy.
The three passengers and Vani were supposed to attend their youth church service (Mataveitokani) at their church in Natabua on the same day. Police investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing. The national road death toll currently stands at 42, a decrease from 63 during the same period last year.