Year 1 Student Dead in Tractor Accident
Tragic incident claimed a child’s life as the victim was trapped after the tractor rolled down a 15 metre slope
Afive-year-old girl has died after the tractor she was in allegedly fell downhill, toppled over and trapped her in between.
The tractor which rolled down about 15 metres downhill had the child seated in the tractor, with an adult behind the wheel. The incident occurred in Tovatova, Nadi, on Monday afternoon.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that the victim was allegedly riding an unregistered tractor driven by her 20-year-old relative.
Dead is Lusiana Ravitikula, a year one student of Mulomulo Muslim primary school in Nadi.
Ana Naviri, 29, of Tubenasolo, was doing the laundry when the tragic incident happened a few metres away.
“The incident happened after 5.15pm. I was washing the clothes and I did see the driver trying to reverse the tractor with the young girl seated on the tractor,” she said. Ms Naviri was surprised as to where the tractor had vanished out of the blue. “I did not hear anything; there was no sound of even anyone crying for help,” she added. “I had a feeling that something wasn’t right and I ran to the slope, I saw the tractor on its side. The young girl’s body trapped motionless under the tractor, and the driver was trying to come out of the tractor.
“I was so shocked to see that and still cannot believe what had happened so suddenly”.
She vividly remembered the victim, the neighbour’s daughter, to be a good mannered child.“I used to talk a lot with her and she was an interesting child. I pray that my children don’t encounter similar tragic incidents since it is painful to swallow.”
She said, Police officers and neighbours had to dig a trench in order to remove the victim from the tractor. “The victim was rushed to the Nadi Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigations continue.”
A teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “She was a decent child and the community is in shock that such a tragic incident happened.”
Meanwhile, the driver suffered injuries and is currently in police custody.