A family’s aspirations to send their daughter to Australia for studies have been tragically interrupted following a fatal accident in Lautoka early Sunday morning. Vani Ratudradra, who was preparing to join her twin sister this year, lost her life in the incident, which also involved four other individuals.
The family’s grief is profound as they come to terms with the sudden loss that has shattered their hopes for Vani’s future. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro reported that Ms. Ratudradra was one of four passengers in a vehicle driven by a 24-year-old along Queens Road near Navutu. It is alleged that the driver lost control, resulting in the vehicle leaving the road and colliding with a post. Ms. Ratudradra died at the scene, while the driver and the other three passengers were taken to Lautoka Aspen Hospital for severe injuries.
Sela, Ms. Ratudradra’s brother, recounted receiving a call just after 1 a.m. on Sunday informing him that his two sisters had been involved in an accident in Navutu, Lautoka. “I immediately went there. I couldn’t focus on the crowd of people, police, and firefighters. I just wanted to save my sister and rush her to the hospital,” he said. He also mentioned that Ms. Ratudradra had recently been discharged from the hospital after a serious illness, which motivated him to try to save her.
According to him, two of Ms. Ratudradra’s sisters were passengers in the vehicle. “Vani died, and another sister is still in the Trauma Ward at the Lautoka Hospital,” he added. The family members were returning from a 21st birthday celebration.
After her recent hospital discharge, the family had been especially cautious, ensuring that a family member accompanied her wherever she went. Alongside her sister, Ms. Ratudradra was accompanied by friends from the area.
Ms. Ratudradra was a former student of Jasper Williams High School, set to join her twin sister studying in Australia at the end of this year. The twins were the youngest of eight siblings, and their mother, Losalini Ratudradra, remains in disbelief over the incident.
The three passengers and the deceased were due to participate in their youth church service (Mataveitokani) that Sunday at their church in Natabua. Police spokesperson Naisoro confirmed that investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing. The national road death toll currently stands at 42, down from 63 during the same period last year.