Sarita Devi-Naidu was still in a state of shock and disbelief yesterday that the father of their four children was dead.

She was too distraught to talk about her husband, Praveen Naidu, who was killed after a car accident on Saturday night at Cuvu Top in Nadroga.

Mr Naidu, the sole breadwinner in his family, was on his way home from work when tragedy struck.

He was a driver at Pacific Green Industries (Fiji) Limited.

Mrs Naidu said: “I was informed by my neighbour of my husband’s accident. By the time I reached the hospital he was already put in the mortuary. I do not know what will happen to us now.”

Those were the only words she could utter before she drifted again into silence staring at the ceiling.

The elder brother of the deceased, Arvin Naidu, said the family now needed support.

“We are waiting for the post mortem report of my brother. From there we will sit to decide on the funeral and after the funeral our family will sit together and discuss on how to assist the mother and children,” Mr Arvin said.

He said the family which lived in Nadiri, wouldn’t be able to live in such isolated area because the children had to go to school.

“We might try to relocate them because we have to support the children’s education,” he said.

Mr Naidu’s family lives at least 20 minutes away from the main road and their house is situated on an elevated area.

Mr Naidu is survived by his wife, Sarita, sister Arti Naidu and children, Samuel, Shayal, Payal and Rachel.

The youngest, Samuel, is in Year 5. Families from as far as Suva gathered at Mr Naidu’s home in Naidiri yesterday to comfort his wife and children.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the accident occurred when the vehicle Mr Naidu was driving allegedly veered onto the opposite lane and hit an oncoming vehicle driven by a 38-year-old businessman of Sigatoka.

“Both were rushed to the Sigatoka Hospital where the 44-year-old passed away,” Ms Naisoro’s said in a statement.

Edited by Maraia Vula

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