Three individuals lost their lives in two separate traffic accidents over the weekend in the western division. In Nadi, two men were pronounced dead at the site of a crash in Wailoaloa yesterday, while a 21-year-old man died in another incident on King’s Road at Dravuni, Tavua, on Saturday.
Reports suggest that both accidents occurred when the drivers lost control of their vehicles while attempting to overtake other cars. Senior Superintendent of Police Mitieli Divuana, who serves as the Director of Traffic, stated that the identities of the two men who died in Nadi have not yet been confirmed.
According to SSP Divuana, “The two men died at the scene, as per the information we have received; they had been drinking with their cousin, along with five other youths at Wailoaloa beach around 6:30 AM yesterday.” He added that the deceased were related to the driver involved in the Nadi accident.
The driver has since been released from Nadi hospital and is currently in custody at the Namaka Police Station. The other three passengers from the accident were treated at Nadi Hospital.
In Tavua, the 21-year-old victim was driving near Draunivi on Kings Road when the accident occurred on Saturday. He was transported to Tavua Hospital but succumbed to his injuries later that afternoon. The four passengers with him were treated and subsequently released. Speeding is believed to have been a contributing factor in this incident.
“Speeding remains a significant issue. We are issuing citations to drivers daily for surpassing speed limits, despite ongoing warnings and advice from the police and the Land Transport Authority,” SSP Divuana expressed. He emphasized that traffic officers at checkpoints continue to issue reminders, yet many drivers ignore these warnings. Currently, the road death toll stands at 31, a decrease from 57 during the same period last year. SSP Divuana urged the community to acknowledge and accept their responsibilities to prevent further increases in road fatalities.