Twin dies in Nasinu road horror
Ten-year- old Ema Marama Salalevu became the latest victim on our roads. She was hit by an on-coming vehicle while reportedly crossing Kings Road.
The incident took place at Nasinu opposite the Fiji National University (FNU) at about 10pm on Tuesday. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the child and her family were returning from their church service at the Jehovah’s Witness church opposite FNU when the incident occurred.
Ema was pronounced dead on arrival at the Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital.
Her death has raised the number of road fatalities to 56, compared to 50 over the same period last year. Ema and her twin sister Inise Ini were the youngest of three other siblings.
She was a Year Four student of Dr Ram Lakhan Memorial Primary School in Nasinu.
The twins had just completed their exams last week.
She was looking forward to her Christmas holidays according to her mother.
She was returning from church with her mother, older sister and a cousin and namesake.
Her cousin and namesake, Ema Marama Yagainasoko, 17, said she will miss Ema as they were close. “We were on our way back from church when I saw her run across the road. Her mother yelled her name and she ran back to her mother and that was when she got hit by the vehicle,” Ms Yagainasoko said. “She was an active child who was always excited about anything new we do. She was loved by everyone and would be missed,” she said. National Fire Authority (NFA) on standby staff, while having their dinner on the night, heard a loud noise outside and rushed out to check.
They saw the mother holding her daughter in her arms and crying. They assisted in stopping a vehicle to transport them to CWM. Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised. Post-mortem according to Police is expected to be carried out today.
Her death has raised the number of road fatalities to 56, compared to 50 over the same period last year.