Nuku‘alofa – Four young men drove home in a rental car toward the village of Kolonga, eastern Tongatapu, after midnight, July 18th.
At the high speed they were traveling, the driver lost control of the vehicle, crossed from the left lane to the right side of the country road, and was met head-on by a coconut tree.
Three of the passengers met their maker immediately. The fourth passenger, riding in the back seat behind the front-seat passenger, age 21, barely survived – but he will not walk again. The driver, 25; front-seat passenger, 44; back-seat passenger behind driver, 14, all died instantly upon impact. Police delayed giving out their names until next of kins are advised.
Deputy Commissioner Pelenaite Vaisuai confirmed the identity of each victim at Vaiola Hospital. The accident was the result of drunk driving, she said. Obviously, these folks had been drinking alcohol, or homemade brews in a home; there are no public bars opened on Sundays in Tonga.
Obviously, these folks were partying at a private residence before driving home late Sunday night. The vehicle crossed over from the left lane of the two-lane highway to crash with the coconut tree far off to the right side of the road.
Legally Drunk to Drive, 0.08% Alcohol
Officer Vaisuai confirmed the alcohol level in a driver’s blood reaching more than 0.08% is considered legally drunk. When a driver is stopped by Police, a breathalyzer test is administered, and arrests are conducted on anyone with blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher.
As recent as after the July 18th accident, Police threw roadblocks around Nuku‘alofa and made over 330 arrests of drunk driving, and disorderly conducts. Called “Operation Safe Streets” Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell verified was a response to increased alcohol related crimes, particularly drunk driving: “Dramatic spike in June and July with 13 deaths,” he said.
Deadliest of all was a member of Com. Caldwell’s police force, Officer Scott ‘Ungo‘unga was the driver of a drink-driving accident at the western end of Tongatapu, on July 3. Officer ‘Ungo‘unga (29), of Kanokupolu Village, was driving under the influence at a very high speed, single-car mishap.
Dead along with the police officer were Kalolaine Quick (43), of Kanokupolu, and Lower Leaving Ma‘u (23) of Haveluloto. The survivor was the dead driver’s wife, Mrs. Vai ‘Ungo‘unga of Kanokupolu (29), who suffered severe physical damages, and was lucky to be alive.
(Photo of congested streets of Nuku‘alofa, and article authored by Sione A. Mokofisi a syndicated journalist living in Tonga. However, his opinions are not representative of the editorial policy of this Website. He’s also Director of English, Journalism & Business Management at Tonga International Academy. He holds a MBA from the University of Phoenix-Arizona; BS from BYU-Hawaii.)