Friends Die In Car Crash

Dharmendra Sami’s plans for his son, Shaneel Pillay’s, engagement in two months have been shattered.

This is after Mr Pillay, 24, and close friend Deepak Kumar, 25, both of Wairabetia, Lautoka, died instantly when the vehicle they were travelling in ran into a tree at Natabua Junction at about 3am yesterday. Three other people who were in the vehicle were taken to hospital for treatment. It left two families in mourning.

Mr Sami said he couldn’t imagine life now without his only son.

“He was working at Home and Living in Lautoka and was a great help for me and the family,” he said.

“He told me that he was at the supermarket just a few metres from our house and said he would be home in 10 minutes, but within 10 minutes he didn’t come home so we thought he would be spending some time with his friends.”

Mr Sami said Shaneel was usually home at 10pm, but since it was nearing midnight he called his son’s mobile 18 times and there was no response.

Mr Sami said it was not until between 4am to 5am that he was called to the Lautoka Hospital to identify his son. Veena Lata, the mother of Deepak Kumar, said.

“I don’t know what time the accident happened, but I only got to find out at 6am.”

“He was my eldest son and was supporting my family.” She said he left home around 10.30pm yesterday, but did not tell his mother where he was going.

“I really miss my son,” she said.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle causing it to veer of the road where it hit a tree at the Natabua Junction.

The road death toll now stands at 61 compared with 59 for the same period last year.