ACCIDENT VICTIM WIDELY RESPECTED BY COMMUNITY

A 37-year-old small business owner who died in a road accident yesterday was widely respected by people of all races in his community. Samuela Vakaloloma of Nawaicoba settlement in Nadi died after an accident at Korovuto near Nadi. Mr Vakaloloma was driving his vehicle when it hit an Energy Fiji Limited post at 3am.

His wife was too distraught to talk to the media yesterday and was still in a state of shock.

The couple have a three-year-old daughter.

A close relative who lived with the family and who did not wish to be named, said that the family left on Saturday to visit family members in Korovuto. Mr Vakaloloma left Korovuto in his vehicle while the family was still there.

He did not return.

The family was informed that he had died in an accident.

“If I had gone with Samu, I believe it would have been a different story altogether,” the relative said. “Nothing like that could have happened.”

“His wife is still shocked after hearing the news of the accident.

They have a 3-year old girl and Samu was doing some small business to support the family,” the relative said.

“He is well-known around this community because he socialised with everybody even with the IndoFijian families around here.

“They all came here to console the family,” he added.

Police investigations continue.

A post mortem would be conducted to ascertain the cause of death.

The road death toll now stands at 37 compared to 52 for the same period last year.

Mereleki Nai