Loud cries, screams for help from children and the state of shock and disbelief is something that passengers on board a tumbled Shore Bus along Naiborebore Village in Tailevu will never forget.

According to Police, it is alleged that a black Fielder, on its way to Nausori, had veered onto the opposite lane facing the oncoming bus that was carrying passengers.

Thanks to the swift action of bus driver Shalvin Prasad, he drove the bus off the road to avoid a head-on collision.

The driver of the black Fielder allegedly hit the bus, causing the bus driver to veer of the road and tumbling on to its side.

The driver fled the scene after the accident but surrendered himself to Police later yesterday.

He was being questioned at the Korovou Police Station.

Lucky to be alive….Passengers from left: Kasanita Tukana, Sakiusa Roko , Simione Navara, Penueli Kuru, Petaia Vuli and Micheal Bitu (front) after the accident at Naiborebore, Tailevu on 18 April 2022. Photo: Leon Lord

Passenger Account
Enroute to a family reunion gathering at Naqia Village in Tailevu, more than 60 passengers on the bus that belonged to Shore Buses Ltd described the ordeal as horrifying.

Passenger Kasanita Tukana said they had left Qauia, Lami, at around 7am yesterday morning and hoped to arrive in Naqia around 10am.

“It happened so quick and we were in a state of shock when everything happened,” she said.

“We had just passed Naiborebore Village on our way to Naqia, which is in Wainibuka, when we saw the black Fielder driving towards us on our lane.”

“We didn’t know what was wrong with the driver.”

“Our bus driver then had to go towards the side of the road because the Fielder was on our lane, the vehicle hit the side of the bus and kept going.”

“We drove off road and the bus tumbled.”

She said everyone in the bus including the children were shocked when it happened.

“I held on tightly to the side stands as my head was on the ground.”

“I could hear the children crying and some were screaming it was a really frightening experience.”

She said she would never easily forget the experience she encountered yesterday.

“I quickly gathered the strength to move out of my seat and hold my grandson who was beneath me in the tumbled bus.”

“One of my grandnephews said he never wants to go on a bus again because of the ordeal that we faced this morning.”

Of the 60 passengers on board, she said at least 20 were children.

She said she was grateful that no one died but felt sympathy for those injured.

“We were planning for this reunion since last year and we know God saved us and that nobody’s life was taken away.”

SURVIVED… Shore Buses driver Shalvin Prasad. Photo: Leon Lord

Bus Driver Tells
Shore Buses driver Shalvin Prasad said: “The driver was on my lane, if I drove towards him he would have died on a head on collision so I drove slowly off the road.

He did not expect the bus to tumble when he veered off road.

“There was a small cliff and the ground was wet and muddy that was where the bus tumbled.”

He said he broke off the glass at the back of the bus so that passengers could disembark.

“All passengers were out, those with injuries were taken to the Korovou hospital and the others who were fine boarded another bus to Naqia for their reunion.”

Witness account
Ilaisa Balekana, who was walking along the Naiborebore stretch at the time of the accident, claimed the driver of the black Fielder was driving strangely for a few minutes before the accident.

“I noticed the way he drove down the road and I knew something was wrong.”

“When I saw the accident a little bit down the road I automatically knew it was because of the black vehicle.”

He said it was fortunate that none in the bus died or suffered severe injuries.

Police personnel directs traffic after the accident at Naiborebore, Tailevu on April 18, 2022. Photo: Leon Lord

Police
Police spokesperson Wame Bolatolu yesterday confirmed that the driver of the black Fielder was questioned yesterday by Police.

He said that five passengers were taken to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital to be treated for body pains and minor injuries.

Police investigations are continuing.

Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj