Ashika Nand says her late mother Sumintra Wati was a kind-hearted woman who loved her five children and three grandchildren.

Ms Wati died after she was allegedly hit and crushed by a Classic bus while trying to cross Tukani Street in Lautoka at around mid-day yes­terday.

Ms Nand said her mother was doing shopping because her son was supposed to be travelling from Canada to visit her.

“I was at home and my husband told me to get ready to go to the hospital. He told me my mother got into a bad accident. Afterwards he told me my mother was no more,” she said.

“I was so shocked, I couldn’t bear the thought that she was dead.

“With my brother coming from Canada, mum was excited. She went to town today and she didn’t know this was her last day.”

Funeral arrangements will be made once her brother arrives next week.

Joeli Namake said he helped transport the vic­tim in a taxi to the Lautoka Hospital after wit­nessing the incident.

“The bus was turning in to go into the bus stand and it seemed the driver didn’t see her,” he said.

“The woman was returning from the market and crossed the road to go to where her husband was waiting at the Shop and Save Supermarket side, that’s when she got hit and her body was thrown underneath the bus.

“She was laying under that bus for a good 15 minutes until the taxi driver, her husband and I rushed her to the hospital,” he said.

Classic Busses Limited director operations Adnan Mohammed said he was aware of the in­cident but did not wish to comment because he doesn’t have the full details.

Police are investigating the matter. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed the incident.

“Today (12/05/22) at about ll.4lhrs (11.14 am) on the Tukani Street a Classics Bus allegedly bumped a female pedestrian aged 62 of Lovu Sea­side, Lautoka,” she said.

The late Sumintra Wati is survived by her hus­band, five children and three grandchildren. Edited by Jeremiah Ligairi

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