drunk driving claims a life

A case of drunk driving has allegedly resulted in the death of a 42-year-old man in Nawai, Nadi yesterday.

The Director Traffic, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mitieli Divuana said the victim was a passenger in a car driven by a 34-year-old man. It is alleged that he lost control of the vehicle causing it to veer off the road, resulting in the unfortunate accident.

SSP Divuana said a second passenger, a 31-year-old man sustained serious injury and is currently admitted at the Lautoka Hospital in critical condition.

The suspect has been questioned and released as investigators await the post mortem examination results. SSP Divuana says the tragic death is yet another sombre reminder that drunk driving kills.

He adds a few hours of enjoyment has resulted in a life time of regret. SSP Divuana says road safety stakeholders are constantly issuing reminders about the dangers of drunk driving, yet arrests continue to be recorded.

For the period of 15th December 2023 to the 31st of January, there were 149 drunk drive arrests, a worrying figure considering the threats on everyone’s safety.

SSP Divuana is pleading with drivers to understand that their actions not only threatens their own safety, but of other innocent road users.

The national road death toll currently stands at 10 compared to 16 for the same period last year.