Retired bus driver Muniappa Naidu is grappling with the passing of his wife, Visha Latchmi, who tragically died the previous morning. Ms. Latchmi lost control of her vehicle while driving along M.N. Naidu Road in Lautoka and crashed into a tree.
Mr. Naidu remarked on the unusual nature of his wife waking him that morning, as she typically allowed him to sleep in. “She woke me to say that she was going and for me to look after the house,” he relayed, expressing his disbelief that those were her final words to him after 25 years of marriage.
Describing his current health struggles, he added, “Today was a different story. She was a wonderful woman, and I loved her dearly. With her earnings, we made ends meet. We were also in the midst of extending our home, a project she contributed significantly to. Now, everything is on hold.”
Mr. Naidu shared that his late wife had been a taxi driver for the past two years. He plans to discuss funeral arrangements with her family, with services likely scheduled for Saturday.
In a statement, Senior Superintendent of Police Mitieli Divuana, the Director of Traffic, confirmed the details surrounding the incident. He explained that Ms. Latchmi lost control of her vehicle shortly after 8 am, leading to the fatal crash. She was taken to Lautoka Hospital, where she was admitted but subsequently passed away.
SSP Divuana added that a post-mortem examination will be carried out to determine the official cause of death. Ms. Latchmi is survived by her husband, their two children, and a grandchild.