Heartbreak and Grief as Two Young Lives Lost in Tragic Sigatoka Crash

FIJI NEWS

By: Rariqi Turner

12/16/20242 min read

The quiet town of Sigatoka was shaken to its core on Saturday morning as two young lives were tragically lost in a road accident that has left families, friends, and colleagues grieving.

Pisawaqa Sirovoama, 20, and Meri Nadaba, 25, were killed when the vehicle they were in, driven by a reportedly intoxicated driver, crashed into an electric power pole along the Queens Highway at Kulukulu.

The accident occurred around 2am, and the aftermath has been devastating.

Two others in the vehicle survived, with one admitted to Aspen Hospital and another discharged.

But the pain of losing Pisawaqa and Meri is far-reaching, affecting not only their families but their close friends and colleagues, who are still struggling to comprehend the loss.

Mereani Qarikau, a close friend and workmate of Meri, shared the heartache she feels after speaking to her just the night before.

“Meri was sending me photos from the party in Nadi she attended with her cousins,”

Mereani recalled. “We kept messaging until I fell asleep. I never imagined that would be the last time I spoke to her.”

Police have confirmed that the driver, believed to be heavily intoxicated, lost control of the vehicle, causing the tragic crash.

Senior Superintendent of Police Mitieli Divuana expressed his sorrow, noting that two fatal accidents had occurred within 24 hours over the weekend.

"It's heartbreaking," he said. "We urge drivers to be responsible and think about the lives they put at risk on the roads."

The road death toll continues to rise, with these two young lives now added to the growing list of victims.

As families mourn and the community grapples with this devastating loss, the call for road safety has never been more urgent.

The Police and Land Transport Authority (LTA) have pledged to continue their efforts to keep the roads safer, but the emotional scars left by this tragedy will be felt for a long time.

For those who knew Pisawaqa and Meri, the world will never be the same without them.

They were more than just colleagues and friends—they were loved ones, taken too soon, leaving behind memories that will forever be cherished.