The four-year-old who is the latest road fatality was described by his mother as a good and well-mannered boy who wanted to become a doctor.

Ezekiel Ame Tale succumbed to injuries he sustained following a motor vehicle accident along the Kings Road near Vunitogaloa, Ra on Wednesday.

A statement from Police said he was getting off another vehicle with his mother near their home at the Waivuke Settlement, Vunitogaloa.

It is alleged that he suddenly ran across the road when another vehicle hit him.

He was rushed to the nearest health centre and later transferred to the Lautoka Hospital where he passed away on Thursday afternoon, the Police report said.

The late Ezekiel Ame Tale.

His parents, Ame Baulitale, a pastor, and Kelera Nadave, were still in Lautoka.

Ms Nadave added that he was the one who always brightened up their day.

His uncle, Laisenia Tonisau, said that the extended family was very fond of Ezekiel, also known as Junior.

“Junior spent most of his time at the village (Vunitogaloa Village) with the children here,” Mr Tonisau said.

“He had a very difficult life growing up, he was always sickly. When he was born, he was admitted for a while in hospital.

“He has been burned several times. He was very close to his grandmother.”

What happened

The family lived a few kilometres away from the village.

“That afternoon (Wednesday) when Junior and his mother left, he refused to go.

“He told his grandmother he wanted to stay back and go swimming in the nearby river.”

He said his mother told him it was time to leave and so he listened.

“Junior only really said goodbye to his grandmother and did not say a word to his mother until the accident.”

Junior was the youngest of four.

His uncle said funeral arrangements were yet to be confirmed.

The road death toll currently stands at 12 compared to 21 for the same period last year.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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