Boy, 6, loses life in accident

Listen to this article:

Mereani Soro (centre) with her grandparents Apenisa and Narieta Rawaqa at their house in Wasavulu. Picture SERAFINA SILAITOGA

MEREANI Soro helplessly watched her younger brother struggle to survive a road accident that claimed his life in Labasa yesterday morning.

The nine-year-old student of Guru Nanak Primary School, who stood by the roadside at Wasavulu where the accident happened, was the first to inform her family about the tragic news, 15 minutes after they left home.

Her younger brother Apenisa Rawaqa, 6, and a Year 1 student of the same school, is believed to have crossed the road when a black twin cab, driven by a schoolteacher allegedly hit him resulting in his death.

 

Deceased, six-year-old Apenisa Rawaqa. Picture: SUPPLIED 

“He saw the bus coming towards us and he crossed the road which was clear when he walked across,” she claimed. “Suddenly, this twin cab appeared and it hit my brother and I couldn’t stop crying. I ran back home and told my grandfather about it and he took my brother to the hospital.

“I have just come back from the hospital because I had to kiss my baby brother before they put him in the mortuary. I miss him so much.”

Their grandfather Apenisa Rawaqa, namesake of the deceased, could not hold back his tears as he described the life of his grandson.

“He was still breathing when I took him to the hospital, but it was weak. Every day he waters our vegetable garden and this morning (yesterday) he kissed his baby brother before going to school, ” he said.

“When we have our family prayer every evening, he always volunteers to read and share the Bible reading.”

Police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro confirmed the incident and said investigations continued.

Array
(
    [post_type] => post
    [post_status] => publish
    [orderby] => date
    [order] => DESC
    [update_post_term_cache] => 
    [update_post_meta_cache] => 
    [cache_results] => 
    [category__in] => 1
    [posts_per_page] => 4
    [offset] => 0
    [no_found_rows] => 1
    [date_query] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [after] => Array
                        (
                            [year] => 2023
                            [month] => 12
                            [day] => 19
                        )

                    [inclusive] => 1
                )

        )

)