A tragic incident has claimed the life of a 13-year-old student, marking the latest road fatality in the country. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mitieli Divuana, the young victim was a passenger in a vehicle along Princess Road in Tacirua, when a truck, driven by a 21-year-old, reportedly lost control and collided with their car yesterday afternoon.
Emergency services quickly transported all five occupants of the vehicle to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, where the young student was sadly pronounced dead upon arrival. This incident has highlighted ongoing concerns about road safety, particularly as two other serious accidents were recorded on the same day.
One of those incidents occurred on Mead Road, where a driver allegedly lost control and collided with a vehicle operated by a 52-year-old man. The driver involved in this accident was also taken to CWM Hospital and remains under care. Separately, another accident on Daniva Road involved an 8-year-old student who was struck by a vehicle driven by a 39-year-old man. It is reported that the child unexpectedly crossed the road at the time of the incident and is currently hospitalized.
In response to the uptick in road accidents, SSP Divuana emphasized the importance of safety measures for both drivers and pedestrians, particularly given the warnings from the Fiji Meteorological Office about current weather conditions.
While the national road death tally stands at 54 this year, a decrease from 73 in the previous year offers a glimmer of hope for a trend towards improved road safety. It serves as a reminder that greater awareness and adherence to safety measures can lead to safer travel for all.
In light of these events, it’s crucial for communities to rally around road safety education and advocate for safer driving practices as well as heightened awareness among pedestrians, particularly children. Collectively, these efforts can contribute to reducing the number of road incidents and fatalities in the future.
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