Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — It was after the horrific car crash that killed 4 cannery workers on the early morning of Dec. 19, 2021 that the StarKist Samoa management began to consider ways to protect its employees from future dangers from the road — especially involving vehicles careening of the road to hit those sitting, walking or standing around the employee entrance area to the StarKist Samoa plant in Atuu.

The solution they came up with is simple: last month, a line of 4-foot tall barrier posts were installed along the sidewalk bordering the road near the employee entrance that many consider a waiting area for employees.

“The area now looks like a more secure and safe area for the employees and despite the fact we can’t bring back our dear fellow co-workers, who lost their lives, at least the company is stepping up for our employees,” a senior manager said.

Samoa News approached some employees who were at the scene and they shared their feeling of gratitude and happiness for the wise move by management to install the posts to prevent any future traffic incidents.

One employee said that the move by the management means a lot to workers who have served the company for many years.

“This is about the safety of everyone who works here including myself, and I thank the management for making the lives of its employees as their top priority,” one worker said.

Another worker said, “This is about protecting our lives because if we think about what happened, children lost their fathers and a grandfather, wives lost their husbands and parents lost their sons due to the action of one careless driver. We don’t want to see this happen again.”

Malaki Tuiama who has worked for the cannery for over 20 years said that this is something that should have been done many years ago. He doesn’t know why the management waited until this tragic car accident. He stressed that since the new posts were installed, he has felt relieved knowing that the waiting area for employees is now a safer place.

BACKGROUND

It was the last work day for the cannery before the annual two weeks shutdown for Christmas and New Year when a vehicle being chased by police for speeding and overtaking vehicles on the road lost control, crashed into a vehicle coming onto the highway at the StarKist Samoa plant and plunged into the cannery entrance gate and security area, killing 4 cannery employees.

Killed at the scene were Faasaulala Ahoni, Levao Ierome Vili, Alatina Faleasi and Taumaoe Filipo. Ahoni and Vili were in the vehicle coming onto the main road, while the other two victims were struck near the cannery gate. The driver and the passenger of the speeding vehicle that was pursued by police survived.

From just moments after the car crashed, children, siblings, coworkers, families and friends of the four victims posted emotional messages on Facebook.

“Oh Daddy when will I ever stop crying. Daddy, it’s my senior year,” wrote the daughter of Levao Ierome Vili of Pago Pago, who worked as a security guard for many years at the cannery.

The youngest victim, Alatina Faleasi, 22 was laid to rest the last week of January. He worked for the cannery for three years. During his funeral service, his aunt said they were overwhelmed with the love shown for Alatina by the cannery management, employees, friends and many people that they didn’t even know.

According to the aunt, StarKist gave $10,000 for the funeral.

The other three victims were laid to rest a few weeks ago. They were Taumaoe Filipo, Ierome Vili and Faasaulala Ahoni.

The victims were described by their families as loving fathers and hard working people.

Representatives of StarKist Samoa’s management team attended each of the victims’ funerals.

The driver of the vehicle, Chanel Lafua, who is still in custody, unable to post his $75,000 surety bond, was arrested a few days after the accident and charged with 15 criminal counts, which include 4 counts of homicide by vehicle and 4 counts of driving while under the influence of alcohol causing death, as well as one count of felonious restraint involving domestic violence. If convicted, he will spend 52 years of his life behind bars.

Police flagged down Lafua near the Satala cemetery and he stopped. However according to the court affidavit, when police approached the driver, he took off at an accelerated speed and police quickly lost sight of him.

The car crashed into another vehicle that was coming onto the highway from the StarKist plant before careening off the road and crashing into the cannery entrance gate.

Deputy Commissioner Foifua Foifua Jr told Samoa News he doesn’t believe police were at fault, the car crashed before police followed it.