3 Dead, Hopes, Plans Shattered
SHow will I be able to look after them? It is such a painful experience for me because the kids are too young. We had plans for our kids but now it has all turned futile.
Akanisi Labailasi Wife of the late Keleto Labailasi
akiusa Moceyoyo is grieving the loss of his only hope. Tevita Natoba and two others died in a fatal accident on Monday afternoon.
Mr Natoba, 27, worked at Nacocolevu Research Station and was returning from work when he got a lift from his cousin in a vehicle. They were only a few metres away from the station when the accident happened along Valley Road near Nacocolevu, Nadroga.
Police spokesperson Wame Bautolu confirmed the accident.
He said police are alarmed at the rising number of accidents on our roads.
Mr Moceyoyo said his son had been working to pay for his studies at the Fiji National University.
“He wanted to become a teacher. After high school he went to FNU (Fiji National University). I got sick so he had to sacrifice, quitting his studies because he wanted to take care of me,” he said.
“He told me not to worry about his fees because he will find some work to pay his fees and complete his stud ies. At the beginning of this month he started work at the research station.”
The emotional father said he had lost hope.
“All my hope was in my son to support the family and build a house for us as he had promised. Now that he is gone, it really hurts us so much,” he cried.
Mr Natoba was also coaching the Nadroga Women’s rugby team.
The other victims, Keleto Labailasi and Mosese Nairi, were cousins from Biausevu Village. Mr Labailasi’s wife, Akanisi La bailasi, is still in shock. The sudden loss of her husband will have a significant impact on their four young children.
“How will I be able to look after them? It is such a painful experi ence for me because the kids are too young,” she said.
“We had plans for our kids but now it has all turned futile.”
Another devastated wife, Salanieta Nairi said they were planning to celebrate their twin’s 16th birthday. “My children were so hurt and they kept on crying for their dad. It was a painful experience for us all,” she said.
“My husband, Mosese is a family man and always prioritises everything about us. We miss him.”
Fiji Police Chief Operations Officer (COO) Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Livai Driu expressed his sympathies for the families af fected by the accidents and called on drivers to exercise caution while driving.
He said police would continue to conduct operations on Fiji’s roads, but drivers need to take responsibil-ity for their passengers’ lives and practice safety at all times. Investi-gations into both incidents are ongo-ing.
Four other passengers from the accident are currently admitted in hospital. One has been discharged. In a separate incident on Monday night, along Bulileka Road at Vatunibale in Labasa where a vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a street light.
As a result, seven passengers were injured, with five of them currently receiving treatment at the hospital and two already discharged.