Rohit Rajinesh Rao says his plea to his late nephew Ajeet Kumar to delay a late-night trip until morning went unheeded, a decision that later cost four lives.
Mr Kumar had travelled to Vatukoula for a wedding with his wife, Shonika Kumar, and their nine-year-old daughter. All three died early Sunday morning.
Police said Mr Kumar allegedly lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and plunged into the Nasivi River in Tavua.
Four people died in the accident, while a fifth passenger survived.
Mr Rao said Mr Kumar and his family had returned from the wedding and were resting at his home.
“Everything was good, they had their shower at my place and after the reception party, maybe nine o’clock, my daughter-in-law told my nephew to drop her somewhere in Toko,” he said.
“I told them, don’t go anywhere, just stay home, tomorrow morning then you go. I was also busy because plenty relatives were at home.”
Mr Rao said the family insisted on making the trip that night.
He said the accident may have occurred around 11pm on Sunday.
“We were sitting and suddenly the call came to my son; at that time we rushed to the rocky bridge. One of my friends and my son dived in (the river), we tried (to retrieve bodies) but we couldn’t.”
The bodies were later retrieved from the vehicle by villagers who dived into the river using torches and goggles.
Mr Rao said post-mortem examinations would be conducted on Friday before the bodies were transferred from Lautoka to Suva.
