Identity of woman who died in bus crash Saturday remains unknown

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 28 January 2018, 12:00AM

One of the three people who died as a result of the bus accident at Faleula on Saturday afternoon, have yet to be identified.

This is according to Police Superintendent and Media Spokesperson, Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo. 

“A woman has yet to be identified and the Police are seeking information from the public that may help find her family,” said Auapa’au.

“Of the 46 passengers, including those who passed away, six were admitted and remained under medical care at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital in Moto’otua.” 

“All 37 were released yesterday and some last night (Saturday night) after undergoing medical observation and having their x-rays scan.”

He said a public notice would be published to try and identify the woman. 

Questions sent to the Land Transport Authority and the Ministry of Police as to what action the Government will take following the tragic accident; were not answered as of press time.  

This is not the first time a traffic accident occurred in this specific area of Faleula. 

Auapa’au emphasised the need for drivers to heed the speed limit of 35miles per hour and for the public to follow traffic laws to eliminate such accidents. 

As reported earlier, one of the survivors, Tausaga Solifono, spoke on her account of the accident. 

“The bus was packed and I was sitting on a woman at the back of the bus,” Tausaga said. 

“My grandmother was sitting with another old lady right behind the bus driver, when we got on the bus she insisted to sit behind the driver,” said the emotional Tausaga. 

Tausaga’s grandmother was one of the deceased. 

Tausaga, a 17-year-old college student at A’ana Apolima, claims: “the bus driver was trying to play a song on his cell phone that is connected to the stereo on the bus. 

“And his attention was distracted that he ran into a red car and that’s when the bus flipped several times. 

“I don’t recall how many times the bus flipped because I was in shock and screaming at the same time.

“I saw the whole incident and I don’t know how to move on from this whole ordeal. 

“I was stuck in the bus, with my head between my legs and grounded by the wooden chairs of the bus and I lost most of my hair when I was trying to move my head.  

“Luckily for me, the men next to me helped remove the wooden chair that held my head and they kicked out the back part of the bus and that was how we managed to leave the bus.” 

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 28 January 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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