Eight suffer injuries
EIGHT people suffered injuries in two separate accidents in Suva on October 15,1989.
An article in The Fiji Times the next day stated that a woman along with three other men were rushed to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWM) around 8.15pm after a carrier smashed the front side of a taxi in Kinoya.
One of the individuals suffered serious injuries.
In another accident, four Korean nationals were admitted to the CWM Hospital on the same night after an accident in Natovi.
Two of them were in serious condition.
Lee Jaehyuk, 36, an employee of Dong San Construction Company along with his four-year-old daughter and wife, Pang Kyungwon, were accompanied by a family friend Kim Jugnhao.
They were heading to Suva from Korovou when their car was involved in an incident at 7.45pm.
They were then transferred to the Nausori Health Centre, Mrs Lee had unfortunately collapsed and was taken to the CWM Hospital.
Dr Jotame Romanu, a medical officer of the hospital, spoke to The Fiji Times and said Mrs Lee had to be placed on a life-support system.
He added her head injuries were “so bad that she needed an airway placed down her throat”.
“Her head injuries suggested that she got a fractured skull, and she is completely unconscious,” Dr Romanu said.
The taxidriver, who was involved in the accident at Kinoya, had broken both legs and a right arm.
His name was not revealed at the time the article was published.
Tima Lovodua, who was one of his passengers, was in a state of shock, but fortunately in a stable condition.
The remaining three passengers escaped with minor injuries.
The driver of the carrier, Tavish Mehmood, 21, suffered facial injuries and walked into the hospital with a bleeding face which had stained the front side of his shirt.
Deo Nigam was the passenger who was sitting in front at the time of the accident, had suffered severe blood loss from his injuries which were not clearly identified at the time.
These three had also suffered from severe blood loss.
Osea Mara, Josua Esala and Tomasi Ratubala who were taking a walk towards Nausori, were the witnesses of the accident.
They shared hearing a loud crash about seven meters behind them.
They had told The Fiji Times there were three “boys” in the taxi who escaped with minor injuries.
Another eyewitness, Sami Turaga, who was travelling behind the vehicle, said he joined others at the scene to retrieve the driver out of his taxi.
He transported the taxidriver, Ms Lovodua and Mr Nigam to the hospital.
Her head injuries suggested that she got a fractured skull...
– Dr Jotame Romanu