The motorcades, from early Saturday morning till night time, from west to east and east to west, celebrating the historic win by Toa Samoa over England in reaching the Rugby League World Cup, pose safety concerns to the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Trucks carrying fans standing or sitting on the truck bed rails waving flags of Samoa, and blaring horns, took to the streets from the time the successful kick over the goal post gave Samoa a one point victory over the mighty English, and were still on the road by night fall.
At Lions Park, fans of all ages showed their joy shouting the team’s name and waving the Samoa flags. A few vehicles displayed the US and American Samoa flags, but the flag of Samoa was dominant.
Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Foifua Foifua Jr. said that it’s safety that DPS is concerned about. He said, there’s nothing wrong with the celebratory motorcades but traffic rules must be followed. He didn’t know if any tickets were issued to trucks with loads of people sitting on the rails. “We will address it today,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Samoa two separate traffic accidents last Sunday morning has left two dead and 10 seriously injured, as Samoa celebrated the historic win; and Samoa becoming the only Pacific Island nation to make it to the finals of the Rugby League World Cup.
The fatal accident happened around 5am at Tufulele village, when a vehicle transporting an elderly man to a hospital was involved in a collision with an oncoming vehicle.
Samoa Observer reports police confirmed the patient and a passenger were killed in the collision.
The second accident occurred at Salani, Falealili, Sunday morning, where 10 people—including the driver—were admitted to hospital after sustaining injuries.
Police did not say if any of the accidents were related to the celebratory car rallies in the wake of the win by the Toa Samoa.
Deputy Police Commissioner Papali’i Monalisa Tia’i Keti warned against unlawful behavior during an anticipated vehicle parade this weekend, when To’a Samoa take on Australia in the final.
Police also warned against the use of unregistered vehicles and unlicensed drivers during the Toa Samoa parades.
