Bleak Christmas for Family in Sabeto
Christmas will not be the same this year for one family in Sabeto. This is after their father and husband Maloni Nadoi, 54, a farmer, died following a motor vehicle accident occurred close to 3am on Friday in Sabeto, Nadi.
When the Fiji Sun visited the grieving family, one of Mr Nadoi’s adopted daughters, said their family was still in a state of shock. Kristina Tutugalala, 30, revealed there was a plan to prepare for a family feast by organising the firewood etc.
“We last talked about that day regarding the preparations for the family feast and we were all committed to it,” she said.
“Year in and year out we do have this feast as a family get together; he will be missed in a big way.”
According to Police, the late victim was driving his vehicle along a wooden bridge at the Waimalika Cane Access Road when he allegedly lost control causing it to veer off the bridge, and landed in a creek.
“I was at the hospital as my mother was sick; little did we know that he was brought to the Nadi Hospital,” Ms Tutugalala said.
“We are still in a state of shock. He was a very kind man, he adopted three of us and raised us even though we are married now and have our own children. He was a family man.”
A post mortem will be conducted to confirm his cause of death as investigations continue.
“We are awaiting the postmortem results, but the family meeting will be done tonight (Friday) for the funeral update,” she said.
Meanwhile, a 60-year-old Jonati Suka, from the same village, who was a passenger managed to escape during the incident.
When approached for comments, he said with his heavy heart he wished to grieve first.
According to Police, the late victim was driving his vehicle along a wooden bridge at the Waimalika Cane Access Road when he allegedly lost control causing it to veer off the bridge, and landed in a creek.
The late Mr Nadoi is survived by wife Sainiana Nasau, three adopted children and five grandchildren.
The road death toll currently stands at 44 compared to 25 for the same period last year.
The Chief Operations Officer (COO) Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (A/ ACP) Livai Driu is again calling on drivers to get adequate rest as driver fatigue is a real threat to one’s safety.
He said with more social activities planned over the next 48-hours leading up to Christmas, Fijians need to be mindful of their safety at all times.