Cab Driver, 22, Captures Hit-and-Run Suspect
Mr Tubuna said he had signalled to the vehicle behind him to take care of the victim while he chased the hit-and-run suspect.
Monday 01 November 2021 | 22:00
Tiko Kece taxi driver Suliasi Tubuna stands beside the cab at his home in Waila, Nausori on November 1, 2021. He was driving the cab when he chased and foiled a hit-and-run suspect at Toorak, Suva on Sunday. Photo: Inoke Rabonu
What was supposed to be a usual Sunday night of driving his taxi became an action packed car chase for 22-year-old Suliasi Tubuna.
For almost two hours, Mr Tubuna chased a hit-and-run suspect from Amy Street, Toorak in Suva until he was able to foil him at Mead Road, Nabua with the help of Police officers from the Nabua Police Station. Mr Tubuna told the Fiji Sun yesterday the hit-and-run incident occurred along Amy Street around 7.50pm.
“I was coming back from Vunaniu village in Serua and I picked up two passengers from Galoa Village while returning to Suva,” he said.
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“They wanted to be dropped off at Samabula and we came through the city and went up Amy Street.
“When I was driving towards Private Hospital, I figured that the driver of a hybrid vehicle in-front of us was driving in a very risky manner. I figured that something was wrong.”
He said when they had approached Oceania Hospitals they saw a man standing on the footpath.
“The driver in front of us just ran into the man and hit him. He literally just flew up from the impact of the hit and landed on the front glass of the same car that hit him. He then rolled down and his head hit the footpath causing him to bleed. We all saw what had happened and we also noticed that the car that him did not stop. He kept driving and ran off."
Mr Tubuna said he had signalled to the vehicle behind him to take care of the victim while he chased the hit-and-run suspect.
“I told my passengers that we needed to run after him because he did not stop after hitting the guy. So we did.
“We chased him around for nearly two hours. He went through Brown St and we followed him, he ended up in Samabula and we still ran after him.
“He was running the red light and didn’t even want to stop. I was doing the same because I knew I had to catch him.”
Mr Tubuna said they drove passed the Nabua Police Station and he yelled out to a few officers standing outside to help him catch the culprit.
“They responded to my call and drove a van up to help. It was only then that they blocked him from the front as I blocked him from behind along Mead Road.”
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said a report was lodged at the Totogo Police Station, but the victim of the accident had refused to give a statement.
She said Police investigations continue.
Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj
