8-year-old child dies, three injured in separate road accidents

An eight-year-old child has died and three other children have been injured in three separate road accidents, prompting Police to call for greater vigilance as Fiji heads into the school holidays.

The eight-year-old became the country’s latest road fatality following an accident along Queens Road at Vakabalea in Navua on the evening of August 18.

The child was allegedly standing in the middle of the road trying to cross to the other side when he was hit by a vehicle driven by a 32-year-old man.

He was rushed to Navua Hospital, where his death was confirmed by medical officials.

The driver will be questioned as investigations continue.

Two children hospitalised

In another serious accident involving children, an eight-year-old and a nine-year-old were hit by a vehicle driven by a 42-year-old man along Adi Davila Road in Nakasi on the afternoon of August 19.

The two children allegedly crossed suddenly from in front of a parked bus, resulting in the accident.

Both are admitted at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital.

In a third accident, a nine-year-old girl was hit by a vehicle driven by a 52-year-old man along Narewa Road on Wednesday afternoon.

The girl allegedly crossed the road suddenly, resulting in the accident.

She is admitted at Lautoka Aspen Hospital in stable condition.

Police issue warning

Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe called on parents, guardians, drivers and the wider community to work together to make roads safer for children.

ACP Vusonilawe said as Fiji headed into the school holidays and busy weeks when large gatherings were expected across the country, the Fiji Police Force was urging everyone to be alert to the movement of children on the roads.

Police also urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their children’s movements and continue reinforcing the importance of road safety.