Three road fatalities over weekend [1]
Tuesday, August 30, 2022 - 14:58
By Linny Folau
Three road fatalities were reported over the weekend, one on Tongatapu and two in Neiafu, Vava'u, while another person sustained severe injuries.
Deputy Commissioner Tevita Vailea said this afternoon, that a two-year-old was hit by a vehicle on the main road in Talafo'ou, on eastern Tongatapu, on Friday evening, 26 August.
The road death was reported at around 7:00pm. Police allege that a 27- year-old male from Makaunga recklessly swerved and hit the child, who was playing beside the Taufa’āhau Road in front of a residence at Talafo’ou. The child sustaining severe injuries and was rushed to the Vaiola Hospital, where he died after midnight that night.
The 27-year-old has been charged with reckless driving causing death. He was held in police custody to appear at the Magistrate's Court today.
Vava'u collision
The two road deaths in Vava'u occured on Sunday, 28 August at around 6:00am, where two vehicles collided at the intersection of Tu’i and Wellington Ngū Roads.
Police reported that a 22-year-old diver, with his 16-year-old male passenger from ‘Utui, was driving a rental car heading from the southern direction, while the other vehicle, driven by a 60-year-old male from Kameli, was heading from the northern direction after the driver had attending morning service at the Neiafu FWC.
Police allege that due to high speed, the driver of the rental car, lost control and collided with the other vehicle, causing the rental car to hit the electric pole at the intersection where the car flipped over.
The 16-year-old passenger died on impact, while the 22-year-old driver was rushed to the hospital with very severe injuries, where he died a few hours later.
The driver of the other vehicle sustained severe injuries to his left leg and was reported to be recovering at the Prince Ngū Hospital.
Police confirmed that the 22-year-old was an unlicensed driver, and they allege that speeding was a contributing factor to this tragic incident.
The deaths bring the total road deaths seven so far this year, compared to six road fatalities in 2021.