A Lautoka woman and her young son are lamenting the loss of the family breadwinner who died in a hit-and-run accident in Vitogo, Lautoka, last week.
Victim Atalo Laba, 40, of Vanuakula Settlement, Drasa, was employed as a street sweeper for the Lautoka City Council.
Laisani Mere said she could not believe her search for her husband ended when she was called to identity his body last Sunday.
Laba left their house last Monday and his whereabouts remained unknown until his decomposing body was found by a passerby at about 4pm last Saturday.
“I did not bother much until Tuesday because this was the first time he had done this,” she said.
“I thought he must have been drinking at a place and fell off to sleep and will come home later.
“But on Tuesday afternoon there was still no sign of him, and I kept thinking of him.”
Ms Mere said on New Year’s Eve she decided to go and search for her husband.
“I lodged a report at the Lautoka Police Station, and they told me to wait for one day because people were still in celebration mood for the new year.
“After going to the police station, I also checked at his workplace and his workmates informed me that they saw him coming to work on Monday.
“But Tuesday was his day off and Wednesday his workmates did not see him at work.
“On Thursday (New Year’s Day) I followed what the officers at the Lautoka Police Station told me and just stayed home.”
Ms Mere said she and her son resumed their search on Friday.
“The people we met in Lautoka told us that he was seen in town, but if he was in town he would have seen us.
“At around 9pm we were still in town, I still could not find him so I was really worried.”
Ms Mere received a call from the Lautoka Police Station on Saturday informing her about a person found dead found in Vitogo.
“We spoke and they asked me about the clothes my husband was wearing, then dropped me off at home.
“It was not until Sunday when they called again, and I went to identify his body.
“I was informed it was a hit-and-run incident.
“We had said our goodbyes to each other before he left home to go to work.
“It really hurt us because we just moved to Vanuakula last year in April, and his mother just passed away recently, it hasn’t been 100 nights and my husband is dead also.”
Meanwhile, the driver alleged to be the suspect in the hit-and-run was questioned by police yesterday.
Investigations into the incident continue.
