Husband recalls road accident, 3 in hospital
Apassenger in the bus involved in the road accident at Nabeka Stretch on Taveuni yesterday spoke about it for the first time. Tomasi Vukirubu, originally from Wai Settlement, Taveuni, said they were going to do their shopping and planned to catch the 10am bus, but ended up in the 2pm trip.
“I was travelling on the bus with my wife, who is from Lavena Village, to do our shopping at Max-Val-U Supermarket at Naqara,” Mr Vukirubu said. “First of all we almost had an accident with another bus when we reached Ucuniwai because it was raining and the wiper for our bus was not working.
“The passengers could see that a truck was parked further in front.
“Since I was sitting in front I called out to alert our driver.”
The 25-year-old said the driver didn’t hear him until it was just a few steps when he yelled out again to the driver. “By the time the driver came to realise what was happening and stepped on the brakes it was too late because by then the bus ran into the truck. “There are three passengers who were seriously injured, a 40-year-old- man (broken leg) was sitting next to me in the bus, the mechanic in his 30s and my wife, 23-year-old Teresia Qetiqeti. “The mechanic was under the truck doing repairs when the collision occurred. He was brought out from under the bus with broken arm and bruises all over his body.
“An iron rod that flew from the bus pierced my wife’s eye. She will be having an operation later today.
“Luckily all the children who were in the bus were not harmed, only those of us sitting in front sustained injuries.” Mr Vukirubu added.