Police await report of Year 7 student injured in Labasa accident

Police are awaiting the medi­cal report of a year seven stu­dent injured in an accident outside his school in Delailabasa in Labasa, last Friday.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed the matter yesterday. The student, later identified as Vinayak Prasad of Labasa Sangam Primary School, was allegedly hit by a teacher's vehicle while trying to cross the road using the zebra crossing around 3pm.

The boy, accompanied by his mother, was airlifted from Labasa Hospital to the Colonial War Memo­rial Hospital on Saturday after sus­taining head and lung injuries.

Labasa lawyer Sarju Prasad yes­terday expressed concern over the high number of accidents, includ­ing fatalities, caused by speeding motorists near the school over many years.

Labasa lawyer Sarju Prasad.

Photo: Shratika Naidu

He said that despite three zebra crossings and speed limit signs along the highway, drivers contin­ued to speed in the area.

"There is an urgent need for speed retarders on each side of the zebra crossings," Mr Prasad said.

"There have been many vehicular accidents at Delai junction because of speeding along the Labasa-Na­bouwalu highway. Speed retarders will compel drivers to slow down before they reach the crossings."