There was no fire extinguisher in the bus that caught fire resulting in the loss of 12 lives in Malaqereqere, Sigatoka, on 28th August 2008.
This was revealed in the Suva High Court by investigating officer Police Constable Praneel Goundar who read out the caution interview of bus driver Kamanieli Tuimavana who is charged with 12 counts of manslaughter.
In his caution interview, Tuimavana said he could have done something if there was a fire extinguisher in the bus.
During the police interview, Tuimavana said he was on day shift on that day which started at 6 in the morning and ended at 6pm while the night shift started at 6pm and ended at 11pm.
Tuimavana told the police officers that on that day he was instructed by his boss to do a trip to Nadi following which he carried out a safety equipment check on the bus which only had the first aid kit but not the extinguisher.
He said his boss was in a rush so he did not inform him about the extinguisher however he believed that his boss knew that there were no fire extinguishers in the bus.
In his caution interview he also said that in Malaqereqere, he noticed flames coming out of the driver’s side and tried to stop the bus but the foot brake did not work.
He said some passengers tried to stop the fire with whatever they got hold of and he also saw passengers get off the bus.
After a while he was unable to see or hear anything.
Tuimavana said he tried to pull the hand brake when he heard a loud sound underneath the bus.
He said he was the last one to jump off the bus.
Meanwhile, Land Transport Authority Chief Executive Officer Naisa Tuinaceva who gave evidence earlier in the day said the fire was a result of an electrical fault and driver’s negligence.
He said the driver could have done something.
But he was unstable to assess the situation as he had breached his hours of driving.
Story by: Praneeta Prakash
