Three individuals lost their lives in two separate traffic incidents over the weekend in the western region. In Nadi, two men were pronounced dead at the scene of a serious accident that occurred in Wailoaloa on Sunday. Meanwhile, a 21-year-old man died in another crash along King’s Road at Dravuni, Tavua, on Saturday.
Initial reports suggest that both incidents happened when drivers attempted to overtake other vehicles and lost control. Senior Superintendent of Police Mitieli Divuana, who oversees traffic enforcement, stated that authorities are still working to identify the two men who died in the Nadi accident.
“Both men succumbed at the scene, according to the information we have. They were allegedly drinking with their cousin and joined by five other youths at Wailoaloa Beach around 6:30 a.m. yesterday,” SSP Divuana explained. “We are still in the process of confirming their identities with their families.”
He also mentioned that the deceased individuals were related to the driver involved in the accident. The driver has been released from Nadi Hospital and is currently in custody at Namaka Police Station. The other three individuals who were involved in the accident have been treated at Nadi Hospital.
In Tavua, the 21-year-old man was driving along Kings Road near Draunivi when his accident occurred on Saturday. Despite being rushed to Tavua Hospital, he passed away later that afternoon. The four passengers with him were treated and subsequently released. Initial reports indicate that speeding was a contributing factor in this incident.
“Speeding remains a significant issue on our roads. We continue to issue tickets to drivers exceeding speed limits daily, despite ongoing warnings from both the police and the Land Transport Authority,” SSP Divuana noted. “Traffic officers at checkpoints are reminding drivers of the rules, yet many still ignore these warnings. The current road death toll stands at 31, a decrease from 57 during the same period last year. It is crucial that everyone takes responsibility to help prevent further tragedies.”