Girl, 5, was humble and quiet, tells relative
Afive-year- old described by relative as a humble and quiet girl is the country’s latest road fatality.
Grace Ranadi Maramanitabua Naisau was spending the week
end with her maternal family in Sorokoba Village, Ba, when she was allegedly bumped by a vehicle while crossing the road.
She was yet to start kindergarten. Melaia Kalokalotalei, a close relative, said she only heard the loud cries of pain followed by Grace’s mother, Aseiri Naivou Rokolaqa, who held the limp body of her child crying: ‘oilei na luvequ’ (Oh my child!).
She said one vehicle going towards Ba drove past Grace and almost hit her but stopped to see if she was okay. Another vehicle travelling behind was allegedly speeding and hit Grace.
“When my family arrived they saw her mother carrying her body from the other side of the road.”
Ms Kalokalotalei said on other days, she often saw Grace playing
on the porch.
“She was humble and quiet. She really broke our hearts today.”
She said community members had made requests for a road hump near the village to protect the children from speeding cars.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said: “The victim was walking in front of her mother when she allegedly ran across the road, where she was hit by an oncoming vehicle driven by a woman in her 20s from Rarawai, Ba.”
The suspect was yesterday questioned at Ba Police Station as investigation continues.
The road death toll currently stands at 21 compared to 37 for the same period last year, Ms Naisoro said.