Lucky Escape For Teenager, Car Crashes Into Nabua Home
A teenager had a lucky escape when a vehicle went off the road and crashed into her home in Nabua at 2am yesterday morning.
Her father, Filimoni Soroaqali, a security officer, was on duty when he received the call. He rushed home with thoughts running through his mind about the safety of his family.
Mr Soroaqali said when he reached home half an hour later, the driver of the vehicle was lying in front of his home.
“The car smashed into my living room, partially damaging it. My daughter was sleeping inside the living room, luckily nothing happened to her,” he said.
Mr Soroaqali said Aliti Soroaqali, 15, reeling in shock, picked up her blanket and quickly moved away from the living room.
Aliti was still in shock when the Fiji Sun arrived at the scene later yesterday morning.
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- Vilimoni Soroaqali (right) with daughter Aliti Soroaqali (front), wife Ana Soroaqali (third from left), a relative Aliti Soroaqali (second from left), daughter Asenaca Soroaqali (back) and son Temesia Soroaqali pointing at the accident site in front of their home in Nabua on September 3, 2017. Photo: Losirene Lacanivalu
Mr Soroaqali, who has three children, said it was a blessing that none them, his wife, a one-month-old baby and a relative were injured from the accident.
He said the car landed upside down with its wheels in the air. Nearby residents managed to get two passengers and the driver out of the vehicle.
“I have been told their breath smelt with alcohol and that the same vehicle was seen leaving Kickoff night club in Centre Point earlier before crashing into our house,” he said.
“The accident has ruined our Sunday as a family, but I am grateful to God for this Father’s Day for keeping my family safe.”
Police spokesperson Inspector Jokatama Qio confirmed that a vehicle had gone off the road and smashed into the house.
Inspector Qio said two people were taken to hospital due to injury.
When asked if there were three people as stated by the residents in Nabua, he said he could not comment further as the two were already at the hospital and were yet to be questioned.
Two questioned for Samabula accident
A vehicle veered off its lane along Ratu Mara Road in Samabula, Suva close to a car yard and collided with another vehicle coming in the opposite direction.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said no one was injured and the driver was taken to Samabula Police Station for questioning.
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- The vechicle that was involved in an accident at Ratu Mara road on August 3, 2017.Photo:Vilimoni Vaganalau.
Vehicle catches fire
A vehicle believed to be an LPG taxi caught fire around 5.30am yesterday.
Police spokesman Inspector Jokatama Qio said the driver managed to escape without injuries and Police were continuing their investigation.
Epeli Rosevu, a security guard at the Pacific Eye Institute in Brown Street in Suva, said he saw the vehicle catch fire and the taxi driver jump out of the vehicle.
Mr Rosevu said this was after 5am and when Police arrived, the driver was gone.
The National Fire Authority managed to put out the fire.
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- Epeli Rosevu points to the vehicle that burned at Brown Street, Toorak on September 3, 2017. Photo: Vilimoni Vaganalau
LTA Response
Land Transport Authority Chief Executive Officer, Carmine Piantedosi said: “We continue to do our road safety awareness campaigns and defensive courses but in the end the responsibility lies on the driver behind the wheel.
“People need to be responsible for their actions and when somebody drives a vehicle they need to be aware of the environment they are surrounded with when they are behind the wheel,” Mr Piantedosi said.
“It is a privilege for drivers to get their licences and drive in Fiji but repeated offenders will have their licence suspended,” he said.
“Drivers have to be responsible.”
Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola
Feedback: losirene.lacanivalu@fijisun.com.fj
