A MAN has lost his life in a Rav4 accident while three others escaped death in Auki, Malaita province.
The accident claimed the man’s life after the vehicle they were travelling in slid off the road and landed into the Kwaibala River, near Auki.
The incident happened at around 10 pm, Monday night when the driver lost control of the wheels which later lands the vehicle in the river.
Those that survived include two females and the male driver. The trio got out of the sinking vehicle alive while the deceased failed to make it out alive.
Solomon Star Auki attended the accident site on Monday night and managed to interview eyewitness, who shared the story of the accident.
According to those that witnessed the accident, the vehicle travelled towards Kwaibala some minutes earlier, and on its way back to Auki it slid into the Kwaibala River.
Eyewitness accounts had it that the vehicle was not travelling at high speed when the accident occurred.
One eyewitness said there were four people in the vehicle; the deceased, the driver and two females.
The two females were the first to get out of the vehicle while it was still floating where they swam to safety and later escaped the accident site.
“I saw two girls swimming out of the vehicle.”
“After both made it to safety, they both cried and screamed, before escaping the accident site without any attempts to get the deceased out of the sinking vehicle.”
“The driver made it out of the vehicle and tried to help the deceased to safety, but at the time the vehicle was already at the river floor.”
“The driver with the help of another male managed to get the deceased out of the vehicle after several attempts, but by then the deceased had already passed on.”
According to eyewitness accounts, a quick response by the driver and two females could have saved the life of the deceased.
In the meantime, the Auki Police Operational Commander, Charles Eddie Koto said the four were under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred.
Mr. Koto said the deceased instructed the two girls to swim to safety through his door when the vehicle was still floating, which they did and escaped to safety.
Police information had it that the deceased told the girls and the driver that he will be the last to come out from the sinking vehicle not knowing that the vehicle continues to sink to the river floor, which makes it difficult for the deceased to get out of the vehicle on time.
The Operation Police Commander said police have already identified the driver and the two girls and an investigation is being carried out.
“We are now investigating the accident with the help of the driver and the two girls.”
Asked if the deceased’s death is a result of foul play, the Operation Police Commander said at this stage there is no evidence to support that.
The deceased was taken to Kilu’ufi hospital after he was pulled out from the Rav4.
By WILSON SAENI
Auki News Bureau
