A 13-year-old student died in a car accident in Tacirua, marking the latest road fatality in Fiji.
Director of Traffic Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mitieli Divuana confirmed that the teenager was a passenger in a vehicle carrying four others on Princess Road yesterday afternoon.
A truck, allegedly driven by a 21-year-old man, reportedly veered onto the wrong lane and collided with their car.
The truck driver is said to have lost control of his vehicle before the crash. All occupants of the car were taken to the Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital, where the teenager was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police also reported two other serious accidents yesterday. At Mead Road in Nabua, a driver reportedly lost control of his vehicle and collided with another car driven by a 52-year-old man. The suspect is currently admitted to CWM Hospital. In Nasinu, an 8-year-old student was struck by a car driven by a 39-year-old man after the child allegedly ran onto the road. The victim is being treated at CWM Hospital.
In light of heavy rainfall and warnings from the Fiji Meteorological Office, SSP Divuana urged both drivers and pedestrians to exercise extra caution and adhere to safety measures.
The national road death toll for the year now stands at 54, compared to 73 at the same time last year.
