Enthusiastic and intelligent Karalaini Tubuna wanted to do a master’s degree in climate change and dreamed of working for the United Nations alongside her father.

But those plans will now be laid to rest after she died in a motor vehicle accident along the Nabouwalu Highway at around 6pm on Sunday.

She was a passenger with her uncle and aunt in a vehicle driven by her mother.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the four from Kauvula, Lekutu, Bua, were travelling back to the Nabouwalu Jetty when the mother allegedly lost control of the vehicle causing it to veer off the road and tumbled several times.

They had left Suva for Labasa on Friday to attend a funeral.

Karalaini’s father, Sakiusa Tubuna, said his daughter had a lot of dreams to achieve.

“Kara was the eldest out of four siblings. She attained her degree in Sociology and Geography from the University of the South Pacific and graduated last year,” he said.

Late 23-year-old Karaleini Tubuna .

She also recently completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Climate Change and wanted to pursue a masters in the same field next year, he added.

“She was always excited about her life and she wanted to join the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with me after her studies,” Mr Tubuna said.

“I am the Sub-Regional Coordinator for Pacific Islands Asia and the Pacific Division and she told me that she wanted to become like me.”

Karalaini also planned to work in the church community to help people.

“They were supposed to catch a night ferry to return,” he said.

Her mother and her uncle aunt are admitted at the Nabouwalu Hospital.

The national road death stands at 36 compared to 55 for the same period last year.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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