Horror On Highway Claims Four Lives - Leaves Family Devastated

It was 3pm last Friday, little Elijah Armstrong hugged his father Kiniviliame Koroibulileka Jr and told him that he loved him.

“I will be back, daddy.’ That is what he told me. How was I to know that these would be his last words to me,” said Mr Kiniviliame Jr.

Tears streamed down his face as he recalled the last time he saw his two children alive.

The Koroibulileka family lost three children last Friday night in a horrific road crash as the vehicle they were travelling in lost control and smashed into an oncoming bus.

Dead are Jemima Grace, 11, Elijah Armstrong, 4, Moses Koroibulileka, 11, and Elenoa Savuiwasa, 34.

The three children were in the back seat of the car while Ms Savuiwasa was the front passenger.

Jemima and Elijah

Mr Kiniviliame Jr’s emotions ran strong as he spoke of his children. It was after 9pm when the phone rang.

It was from the Navua Hospital. A doctor had called to tell him that his children had died.

“I broke down. I could not hold myself. My lovely children were gone,” he said.

His wife, Soroasiga Teresia Davis, and their five children had come from Kadavu a month ago to bury his mother, Miriama.

They had stayed back awaiting the relaxation of interisland travel so they could return home.

“That day Jemima wanted to wear all white. Even down to her socks. I told her she should wear something colourful because she was going to a birthday party,” he said.

“She told me that she wanted to wear white and would change for the birthday. She even made her  brother Elijah wear white.”

Elijah on the day had wanted to watch Cocomelons on Youtube. His father had told him that he would download it and he could watch it when he returns.

He said Jemima was a joyful child and full of energy.

He said she would run and greet visitors, her presence alone was full of energy.

Moses

Young Moses Koroibulileka was the youngest child Kiniviliame Koroibulileka Sr and brother of Kiniviliame Jr.

“Elenoa (the front seat passenger) is my daughter’s sister-in-law. They were going to a birthday party and it was arranged for the children to go,” Mr Kiniviliame Sr said.

“We all thought Elenoa was going to drive so we let the children go. I lost my wife a month ago and now my youngest child.”

He described Moses as a talkative child with keen interest in sports.

“He was looking forward to the opening of school at the end of the month,” said the 58-year-old retired military man.

Elenoa Savuiwasa

The 34-year-old Department of Information officer was on her way to Sigatoka to surprise her mother on her birthday.

Older sister Viniana Bola said Elenoa had already set the plans in motion and was to arrive last Friday night and the birthday party would start on Saturday.

“My sister was a strong woman. She was courageous and took on the challenge of looking after her son when her marriage did not work out,” Ms Bola said.

“Even though I am the eldest, she took on that responsibility because I was away from home. She will be missed.”

Elenoa’s son, six-year-old Peni Vunisa, was also in the car.

According to Police, he is in a stable condition.

Witness accounts

Inside the bus which was involved in the accident, Akariva Vueti was seated in the fifth seat behind the driver. A catechist for the Wainiyaba Methodist Church, he was returning home from Lomary after a parents-and-teachers meeting.

“The bus was travelling at a slow pace,” he said.

“I was seated in the fifth seat. All of a sudden there was a crash. The lady in the first seat, Va, came running to the back.

“I got up and saw a small car had hit the bus. First thing I did was tell the children in the bus to remain seated.

“I got out of the bus and was the first person to see the victims. The girl in the backseat was motionless, the boys were moving a little, but all of them were drenched in blood.”

Mr Vueti said they tried opening the doors to get the children out, but could not. He said this was the third accident at the bend in a week.

Bus driver Rajesh Nand said he saw the vehicle spinning out of control as it came out of the bend.

“I stood on my brakes and even swerved the bus to the left so it could go out of the car’s way, but that car spun and crashed into the bus,” Mr Nand said.

“The woman in the front seat was motionless and even the Police thought she was dead. But when the fire trucks opened the doors and freed her, she moved and was taken to the hospital.”

Driver stable

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as former well known journalist Epineri Vula.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the driver was in a stable condition along with six-year-old Peni.

Ms Naisoro said Police also discovered marijuana in the vehicle.

The autopsy would be taking place today. The family of the children plan to have the funeral this Friday.

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