A man from Falease'ela, Lefaga has been charged by the Police for being an unlicensed driver and negligent driving, following a crash involving a top bureaucrat's vehicle.

The two charges against the man were confirmed by the Police Commissioner, Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo in response to questions from the Samoa Observer this week. 

Auapa'au said the crash last Friday involving a black Mazda minivan and a government-owned Ford Ranger, which is the official vehicle of the Land and Transport Authority C.E.O. Galumalemana Titi Agnes Tutuvanu-Schwalger, was reported on the same day of the incident. 

He said the police's investigation into the accident confirmed that the driver of the minivan did not have a driver's license. 

Auapa'au did not say whether the man, who is an L.T.A. employee has been charged or will be charged.

As reported by this newspaper last week, the truck belonging to the C.E.O. of the authority hit the minivan at Falease'ela, Lefaga on Friday afternoon with the mishap leaving the other driver shaken. The collision took place in front of the FEXCO Western Union Poutoa outlet at Falease'ela before midday last Friday.

It is believed that Galumalemana was in the vehicle and making her way to Salamumu for the official opening of a road project. She was in the vehicle at the time of the collision but was not driving. Her driver was taken to the hospital after the crash for a quick checkup. 

Attempts by the Samoa Observer to get comments from the L.T.A. C.E.O. were unsuccessful.

According to an eyewitness from the village, a blue Ford Ranger with the number plate LTA01 (Land Transport Authority) was allegedly speeding down the road and crashed into a black Mazda minivan as it was turning into a Western Union outlet. The collision left the small black car badly damaged with its bumper literally written off and the car's front wheel axle broken.

The driver of the black car, who did not want to be named, was still at the scene when this newspaper arrived and in a state of shock.