Three New Year deaths in Tongatapu [1]
Thursday, January 8, 2015 - 15:46
A woman has died and two more were seriously injured when a car left the road and crashed into a group of women at a home in By-Pass Road, Ma'ufanga, on New Year's Day
The death was one of three accidental deaths reported in Tongatapu over the New Year. A man died in a separate road accident at Hihifo Road, and a woman died after being electrocuted at her home in Kolomotu'a.
The Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Tevita Fifita said today the first road death for the year was a woman who died on 2 January, at Vaiola Hospital. The victim was injured in a road accident on New Year's Day at around 3:00pm on the By-Pass Road, where a car overturned and crashed into a compound of a nearby home, injuring three people who were talking outside the house, including the deceased.
He said the victims, who sustained serious injuries, were rushed to the hospital. The two others are reported to be recovering.
The male driver who remained in custody is alleged to have been speeding and under the influence of alcohol and has been charged with reckless driving causing death and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Tevita said there was another road death at around 5:00am on Sunday, 4 January at Hala Hihifo, when a male driver who was heading into town allegedly hit a pedestrian in the dark.
“It is alleged the accused was not able to see the pedestrian because a car who was driving down the opposite direction had its headlights full on,” he said.
The accused who is charged with reckless driving causing death, told police he had only realised that he had hit someone after hearing a bang. He then rushed the victim to the hospital but he had died, said Tevita.
Meanwhile, the third death was a mother who was electrocuted at her home in Kolomotu’a early Sunday morning, 4 January.
She came out of her house and allegedly touched a power line that was led into the house, causing the electrocution.