A 21-year-old man, a pedestrian, died from a hit and run accident on a road in Pangai, ‘Eua, on Friday night, 11 November.

Police responded to the accident at around 4:35pm. The victim from Angahā sustained severe head injuries but died at the hospital, at around 9:14 pm on the same night.

An unlicensed 15-year-old male from Futu was arrested.

Police alleged that the accused was driving in a vehicle, heading east on the main road and had swayed too far to the left side and hit the deceased from behind. The young man was on foot heading in the same direction. 

It is alleged that the driver failed to stop after the impact. He remains in police custody while their investigation continues.

This is the 12^th road fatality in Tonga this year. The last one was earlier in the morning of the same day, 11 November, in Vaini, Tongatapu, where a 32-year-old man died when his car crashed into a tree.

In a statement today Tonga Police urged the public to be more responsible for safety on our roads. “Not only for their own safety but also for the safety of other road users. It should always start from home, where parents and adults should never allow unlicensed or intoxicated persons to get behind the wheel. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.”

Meanwhile,