Nuku’alofa – Local medical doctor Dr Pafilio Tangitau has warned drivers and passengers about what he described as increasing negligence that is putting lives at risk on Tonga’s roads, particularly involving people riding in the back of pick‑up vehicles.
The doctor’s warning comes after police reported that a seven‑year‑old boy remains in Vaiola Hospital receiving treatment for injuries sustained when he fell from the back of a moving van onto the roadway in Popua on 14 April 2026.
Police said the driver was arrested, but no further details have been released. There is no confirmed link between Dr Tangitau’s public warning and the incident reported by police.
In a public Facebook post, Dr Tangitau shared a photo of a plastic stackable chair commonly used in households, alongside a copy of a recent Tonga Police media release about the injured child.
The post was accompanied by a brief but direct message urging the public to use common sense when transporting passengers.
“Just a reminder… a small message of advice, in case it may help someone,” Dr Tangitau wrote in Tongan.
Referring to the chair, the doctor said people have been falling from vehicles because they were sitting in unsafe seating arrangements.
“Please use common sense. There is no problem with sitting on the floor of a vehicle. Dirty clothes can always be washed, but life is only one and there are no spare parts,” he said.
Dr Tangitau stressed that falling from a vehicle due to unsafe seating should not be dismissed as an accident.
“If you fall from a vehicle because you were sitting in this kind of seat, it is not an accident — it is negligence. Please be more careful,” he said.
Recent Police Case
The Tonga Police media release shared in Dr Tangitau’s post said the driver — a 31‑year‑old man from Patangata, currently residing at Fanga ‘o Piloleva — has been arrested and remains in police custody. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Tonga Police have urged all drivers to exercise extra caution, particularly when transporting passengers in trucks and vans.
With the four‑day 99th Inter‑Collegiate Sports 2026 underway, police have reminded motorists to ensure passengers are safe at all times and to comply with all road safety requirements.
