AN early morning bus ride to town turned into a fight for survival for more than 50 passengers in Lautoka yesterday after the bus they were travelling in went off the road and into a ditch.
The passengers including women and children were on a bus travelling along Vomo St when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle.
According to passenger, Sumeet Raj of Waiyavi the incident occurred around 7am.
Mr Raj said although no one died in the accident, many of the passengers sustained injuries including him.
Sporting obvious bruises to his right arm and fingers, Mr Raj said the bus was travelling at high speed when the incident occurred.
He also claimed the bus was not road worthy.
"The bus was defective," Mr Raj claimed.
"Many of the passengers saw the clutch had come off which caused the driver to lose control of the bus," Mr Raj said.
Visibly upset with the way the bus was not in a condition to operate on the road, the 20-year-old said the incident could have been avoided if the bus was inspected properly.
Police officers were on the scene after the accident and had reportedly taken the driver in for questioning.
The bus has been taken to the Land Transport Authority Lautoka yard where it will be inspected.
LTA spokesman Alfred Wiliame said a detailed report would be provided once the inspection is completed.
"The Police will conduct their own investigations and we will also do ours.
"The bus is with us so that our officers can conduct an inspection and we should be able to have something later in the week," said Mr Wiliame.
When approached for comments officials of the the bus company said they would await the completion investigations before officially commenting on the matter.