Stretch of death claims another life

Astretch of road at Varavu, Ba, has claimed the life a man believed to be in his 50s after a tragic accident on Saturday night.

Pandit Rejendra Prasad described the horror as he witnessed the ordeal take place in front of his home.

The deceased, who is yet to be identified, was walking on the road when he was allegedly hit by a vehicle.

Mr Prasad was in the sitting room of his house—when he heard a loud noise.

It was around 7.15 pm when the incident happened.

“I rushed out of my house as soon as I heard the noise,” Mr Prasad said.

“The first thing I saw was something lying on the road. I could tell that it was the body of a man.

“It was horrific to see a person’s body lying on the road.

“The impact must have driven the man’s body 25 yards further from the initial point of contact.” Mr Prasad’s next reaction was to immediately contact the emergency numbers. “Unfortunately there was no response from anyone,” he said.

“The vehicle involved in the accident then parked about 30 metres away from where the man had been lying.

“People started gathering at the scene but the accident victim failed to show any sign of life.” Mr Prasad said no one could touch him until the Police or official first responders arrived. Mr Prasad said that the man’s e-Transport card and lighter was confiscated by the Police. Mr Prasad said the one kilometre stretch of road had been the location of major accidents in the past two years.

“Five accidents have already happened along that stretch this year, unfortunately this one claimed a life,” he said.

“The stretch also claimed a life last year as well with other nonfatal accidents.”

Mr Prasad has made numerous requests for a road hump to be constructed because a school and a community of more than 480 people reside around the Varavu area.

Varavu Muslim Primary School has a roll of more than 400 students who use the road daily.

“I’m really worried about over speeding,” Mr Prasad said.

“I’m lucky to be alive after being involved in an accident during May of this year. An overtaking vehicle had hit my vehicle.”

“I sustained minor injuries only. I was lucky to come out alive.” For now, Mr Prasad is pleading for drivers to cut down on their speed along that stretch and that road humps are built to contain over speeding.

P o l i c e spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that a man died after he was allegedly hit by a vehicle along the Kings Road in Varavu, Ba.

Ms Naisoro said it was alleged that the victim had suddenly crossed the road when he was bumped by the vehicle driven by a man in his 40s who was heading towards Ba.

After the fatal accident in Ba, the road death toll stood at 52 compared to 47 for the same period last year.