Death driver charged, appears in court today

THE 21-year-old Malawai, Nadi, resident who was allegedly involved in a hit and run that killed a 41-year-old police officer last week has been charged with one count of manslaughter.

Police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro said the accused faced five other charges including illegal drug possession.

“He faces one count of manslaughter, one count of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, one count of careless driving, one count of failure to comply with requirements following an accident, one count of using motor vehicle contrary to licence condition and one count of unlawful possession of an illicit drug as marijuana was found inside the vehicle,” she said in a police report.

“He will be produced at the Nadi Magistrates Court (today).”

Meanwhile, a series of serious car accidents were recorded over the weekend in the Western Division.

In the first incident reported in Tavua, a 20-yearold driver was alleged to have been driving under the influence of alcohol when his vehicle veered off the road in Natawa on Saturday morning.

Ms Naisoro said the suspect was accompanied by a 19-year-old passenger heading towards Lautoka when the accident occurred.

The 20-year-old is admitted at the Tavua Hospital and would soon be questioned.

The second incident landed a nine-year-old in the Sigatoka Hospital after a 27-year-old man allegedly hit the young boy.

“The suspect was heading towards Nadi when the alleged accident occurred along the Queens Rd near Tagitagi in Sigatoka when the victim suddenly crossed the road.

“In a separate case a 15-year-old student of Naikabula in Lautoka is admitted in stable condition after she was allegedly bumped by a vehicle driven by a 54-year-old man from Lovu in Lautoka.

“The incident occurred on Thursday night along Drasa Ave.

“The victim allegedly ran across the road when she was bumped by the suspect.”

The national road death toll currently stands at 45 compared with 59 for the same period last year.