Accident Shocks Student’s Family

18-YEAR-OLD PEDESTRIAN HOSPITALISED AFTER GETTING HIT WHEN TWO CARS SMASHED

Afamily is still in shock after one of their daughters was involved in a road accident at the Sonaisali Island Resort road junction outside Nadi on Saturday. Police spokesperson, Naina Ragigia confirmed the incident happened around 2.30pm where by Marica Vakalutulawa, 18, – a student of Korovuto College – while walking along the Queens Road was hit by a vehicle during a two car smash-up. Her uncle, Sairusi Vakalutulawa, was very emotional when the Fiji Sun visited the victim’s home in Korovuto yesterday. “At the moment we are praying she gets through surgery. The hospital asked us to donate blood so one of my nephews and daughter have gone to the hospital this morning,” he said. According to Mr Vakalutulawa, his niece was on her way to the shop when the accident happened.

“I heard she tried to avoid the car but was too late. I have been looking after her since Year Seven when she came from Tavua Village in Koro, Lomaiviti to be part of our family,” Mr Vakalutulawa said. Ms Ragigia said the teenager was hit by the mini-van that had spun out of control from a smash-up with another vehicle. “A mini-van driven by a 45-year -old man was heading towards Nadi when it collided with a private vehicle driven by a 55-year-old man who was making a right turn into the Sonaisali Road,” Ms Ragigia said.

“In the process of the collision, the minivan driver hit the victim who was walking along the road. She was then rushed to Nadi hospital and later transferred to the Lautoka Hospital for further observations.” An eyewitness Dilesh Krishnan who lives close by said: “The van bumped the girl and carried her with the momentum. “We then ran straight to pick the girl up but she was injured as she was limping. “It was a sad afternoon for me to see an innocent person to be part of such accident.” Edited by Rusiate Mataika