The Police still have no leads on the whereabouts of a motorist suspected of killing an 18-year-old university student in Vaitele in April 2021.

The deceased, Tuuau Faasavalu or Ituau, was found lying on the side of the road on Maali Street, Vaitele in the early hours of Wednesday 21 April 2021 and was declared dead on arrival when he was rushed to the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital (TTM) at Moto'otua.

Responding to questions from the Samoa Observer, Police Commissioner, Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo said on Saturday that there has been no progress on the case.

"There are currently no leads yet so far since the accident, we keep receiving information from members of the public now and then, but no luck so far," he said. "Police is also responding to that information from the public by going out there and investigating any new info we receive but nothing has come out successful."

Asked about a suspected white van with the claim going viral on social media, the Commissioner said the Police also did their investigation but it led to nothing. 

"We always investigate any new information that we receive including that one but nothing so far as well."

Recently, photos of a vehicle that was suspected to have hit the deceased were circulated on social media, with members of the public openly accusing two Members of Parliament of being the owners of the suspected vehicle. The vehicle has never been found to date.

The 18-year-old died from severe injuries and would have turned 19 years old on the same week he died. An eyewitness at the scene said that they informed the Faleata Police Station as soon as they found the young man lying on the roadside.

Police three years ago urged the public and those with information on the accident to step up and help to find the vehicle that was seen around 1 am that morning on the same street the deceased was found. 

Tuuau's parents, Fala and his wife Rosie Maletino are still searching for answers following the tragic death of their son, appealing to the public for information so they can have closure.

He was the fourth out of their five children and memories of the tragedy remain fresh in their minds when interviewed by the Samoa Observer at the time.

Mr and Mrs Maletino said that they don’t seek vengeance and instead want to be at peace, by knowing the identity of the person behind the wheel that early Wednesday morning.

“We appeal to the driver to come forward or members of the public on any information that may lead to the discovery of the driver or vehicle to please contact our Traffic Unit on telephone 26712.”

The deceased is from the villages of Fasitoo-uta, Letogo and Vaitele who was also a student at the National University of Samoa before his tragic passing.

• This story was updated on Saturday 24 June 2023 with comments from the Police Commissioner, Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo confirming that there has been no progress with the Police investigations.