Qalau family mourns loss of eldest son

Mohammed Arif Khan is the fourth person killed on same blackspot identified by LTA

Afamily in Qalau, Rakiraki, is now mourning the loss of their eldest son who died yesterday in an accident at Nawai, Nadroga. Dead is Mohammed Arif Khan, 24, who drove for a tour taxi company based at The Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa at the Coral Coast. His younger brother Mohammed Afroz Khan, 21, said he was returning the rental car to its owners in Nadi at the time of the accident. “He dropped me at our family place in Sigatoka and he said he would return to join us later,” he said. “I was shocked to hear that this would be a way of saying goodbye. I am speechless. My brother was a family man, always being the friendly person in the family.” Overcome with emotion dad Mohammed Atik, 45, said: “We were shocked as we were supposed to begin our normal routine day of our business. “We came here then we knew that he is no longer alive. I had high hopes for him as talks started for his marriage to be held in February, but all our family hopes have been cut short this way.” Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the accident occurred past the junction at Momi Road, around 8.30am where the rental car was involved in a head-on collision with a bus (Classic Buses Limited).

“The driver of the rental car who was travelling alone towards Nadi allegedly lost control of the vehicle and veered onto the opposite lane when it hit the oncoming bus,” she said.

Police investigations are continuing.