Road accident injures Japanese worker [1]
Thursday, September 18, 2014 - 21:29
A 70-year-old taxi driver is in hospital for head injuries, while a 60-year-old Japanese man was flown to Australia today for treatment, following a road accident in Vaini, on Wednesday September 17.
Police in Nuku’alofa said today the two victims, who were driving from the eastern district, sustained head injuries after their car crashed into a tree on the side of Taufa’ahau Road.
A 26-year-old male driver from Kahoua, who is alleged to have been under the influence of alcohol, has been charged with reckless driving.
It is alleged that the accident occured around 11:00am when the accused who was driving down from the Nuku'alofa area, suddenly overtook a car in front of him causing the taxi that was coming down the opposite direction to swerve and crash into a tree on the side of the road.
The accused, who had two passengers in his va,n crashed into a coconut tree on the side of road. They sustained minor injuries and were reported to be fine.
Meawhile, the taxi driver from Tofoa was reported to be in a stable condition in hospital. The Japanese man who was reported to be stable, had sustained head injuries and was flown to Australia for medical treatment. He was in Tonga as part of an environmental survey group for the Faua Wharf upgrade project, which Japan is funding.
It was a public holiday in Tonga yesterday for the Crown Prince's birthday.