A family’s plans to send their daughter to Australia for studies were tragically cut short due to a fatal accident in Lautoka early Sunday morning. Vani Ratudradra, who was set to join her twin sister later this year, lost her life in the incident, which involved four other people.
The unexpected tragedy has left her family devastated as they cope with the loss of Vani and the hopes they had for her future. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro reported that Ms. Ratudradra was one of four passengers in a vehicle driven by a 24-year-old. The driver allegedly lost control while traveling along Queens Road near Navutu, causing the car to veer off the road and crash into a post. Vani died at the scene, while the driver and three other passengers were taken to Lautoka Aspen Hospital with serious injuries.
Vani’s brother, Sela, recounted receiving the distressing call around 1 a.m. about the accident involving his two sisters. “I immediately went there. I couldn’t pay attention to the crowd, the police, or the firefighters; I just wanted to save my sister and rush her to the hospital,” he said. He noted that Vani had recently been discharged from the hospital after a serious illness, which heightened his urgency to help her.
Of the two sisters who were passengers, one remains in the Trauma Ward at Lautoka Hospital. The family members had been returning from a 21st birthday celebration when the accident occurred. “After she was discharged from the hospital, we always made sure to take good care of her; a family member had to accompany her wherever she went,” he added.
Formerly a student at Jasper Williams High School, Ms. Ratudradra was scheduled to join her twin sister, who is currently studying in Australia, at the end of this year. The twins are the youngest of eight siblings. Their mother, Losalini Ratudradra, is still processing the shock of her daughter’s passing.
The three passengers along with the victim were supposed to attend a youth church service that Sunday at their church in Natabua. Naisoro indicated that investigations are ongoing to determine the accident’s cause. The national road death toll currently stands at 42, a decrease from 63 fatalities recorded during the same period last year.