Wife Shares Grief Of Losing Husband, Sole Breadwinner To A Road Accident
Her husband Joji Tuinukuafe, 48, was driving along the Deuba Village Feeder Road when he allegedly lost control of his vehicle causing it to veer off the road.
Tuesday 21 April 2020 | 12:46
A devastated Maretini Tuinukuafe at their home. Photo: Lusiana Tuimaisala
Maretini Tuinukuafe has expressed her grief that the man she relied on to put food on the table is no more.
Her husband Joji Tuinukuafe, 48, was driving along the Deuba Village Feeder Road when he allegedly lost control of his vehicle causing it to veer off the road.
His body was recovered from his vehicle by National Fire Authority officers.
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The late Mr Tuinukuafe bought the vehicle in January for $17,000, and operated it as a private taxi.
Recalling moments leading to the accident, Mrs Tuinukuafe said: “We were in Suva on Saturday. We were having dinner in the car on our way home, and my husband told me ‘Na this will be our last dinner together’.”
Mrs Tuinukufae brushed his comments aside, but what she found surprising was that he gave her some money on Saturday rather than the usual Monday.
“He told me that he wasn’t getting much because of the COVID-19 restrictions and nationwide curfew,” she said.
“I was shocked when Police arrived home to relay the sad news of my husband’s death.”
The couple had plans to purchase a four-wheel-drive vehicle and start a business in the village.
“Whenever I got angry at him, he will always turn back to me with a smile,” Mrs Tuinukuafe said.
Mr Tuinukuafe will be buried in Navua on Saturday.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
The national road death toll stands at eight compared to 18 for the same period last year.
Edited by Ivamere Nataro
Feedback: lusiana.tuimaisala@fijisun.com.fj
