The family of the late Jolame Koroi never expected their recent parting goodbyes with him would be their last.

Mr Koroi lost his life in a road accident yesterday morning when the sugarcane truck he was driving veered off the road at Tuvu, Lautoka.

Police Media officer, Wame Bautolu confirmed the incident.

“The incident occurred around 4am (yesterday), the cane truck went off the road at Tuvu and the driver was rushed to hospital where he died on the way,” he said.

Father of five

Mr Koroi resided in Veisaru, Ba, with his wife, his five children and extended family members.

His niece, Lusiana Nasalo said her family was still coming to terms with the shocking news.

“The FSC (Fiji Sugar Corporation) called us and relayed the news to us after 10 this morning (yesterday), but I was looking at the other media article and it said that the accident much earlier at around 3am, but FSC only told us around midday that he passed away,” she said.

“We last saw him yesterday morning (Monday); there was only one cane load left to take and the last truck left yesterday so when he left he never came back.”

She said Mr Koroi was the sole breadwinner of the family.

“Last year he was driving a separate cane truck, but this year he started working for FSC. We never thought this would happen and he loved all the children here. We couldn’t hold back our tears when we got the news that he passed away,” she said.

“He was a kind-hearted man who treated us all alike and never differentiated anyone, he was like a father figure to all of us here.”

She said Mr Koroi’s death was a double blow to the family as they only buried his late mother last year.

FSC and NFA respond

Fiji Sugar Corporation Chief Executive officer Bhan Pratap Singh said he could not release information on the incident as it was confidential.

National Fire Authority chief executive officer Puamau Sowane confirmed that officers arrived at the scene at 3.48am where they found the sugarcane truck had gone off-road.

“The rear of the truckload of sugar cane was on fire. The driver was heavily trapped inside the truck on the driver’s seat. The brigade quickly established a delivery from the appliance to stop the fire from spreading towards other sections of the cane truck,” he said.

“The crew utilised rescue equipment to extricate the victim out from the cane truck while the Lautoka Hospital ambulance was at the scene to transport the victim to Lautoka Hospital.”

The late Mr Koroi is survived by his wife and five children.

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