A MAN who admitted causing the death of his passenger after falling asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment by the Rakiraki Magistrate’s Court.
Waisake Sokomuri pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving occasioning death over a crash near Tavua on September 9, 2018.
The court heard Sokomuri was driving a rental twin-cab from Lautoka to Tavua when he fell asleep about 200 metres from the Vutuna Junction, causing the vehicle to veer off the road into a drain.
Passenger Akuila Tuvulase sustained severe spinal injuries and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Lautoka Hospital before dying on March 13, 2019. A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was sepsis and multiple pressure sores arising from injuries sustained in the crash.
Magistrate Timoci Qalinauci sentenced Sokomuri to 15 months’ imprisonment on June 30, ordering him to serve five months, with the remaining 10 months suspended for three years. He was also disqualified from driving for six months after completing his custodial sentence.
