Student, 7, is latest road fatality
AYear 2 student of Lami Primary School has become the latest road fatality after being hit by a vehicle along Foster Road near the Tamavua-i-Wai Road junction.
Anivive Natabala, 7, was returning from collecting leaves for her dance costume when the incident happened on Saturday night.
The 19-year-old driver reported the matter at the Delainavesi Police Post and officers and bystanders rushed Anavive to the CWM Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police say the driver remains in custody at the Totogo Police Station, Suva. Yesterday her family was mourning their loss, with her father - Vilikesa Natabala fondly remembering his daughter as “the kindest and most caring child” he had known.
Mr Natabala was still in disbelief over Anavive’s death.
He described his daughter as a selfless girl with very strong Christian values.
“I really miss her and the feeling to lose something that’s so precious to you,” said Mr Natabala.
“The last time we spoke was yesterday when I returned from work and I was wet so I asked her to take off my socks. So she told me that I should drink a cup of hot tea and a have a warm bath.”
Her father said Anavive was a hardworking girl who always helped around the house. “One thing with my daughter is that she takes church very seriously,” said Mr Natabala.
“You never saw her fight with her siblings. Ani sacrificed her studies one day just to look after her elder sister who was sick and her sister is in Form 6, so she was very attached to her siblings.”
Anavive was the youngest of six children. The road death toll currently stands at 35 compared with 36 for the same period last year.