On a quiet Sunday morning in Lelata, a car crash left five individuals hospitalised after their grey Nissan X-Trail flipped upside down. 

Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo confirmed to this newspaper that the driver had been charged with negligent driving following the incident.

The accident, which occurred at an intersection in Lelata, shocked residents of the area as emergency services rushed to the scene to attend to the injured passengers. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the overturned vehicle and individuals being extracted from the wreckage.

"It's not Robert Louis it was at Lelata where the car crash incident happened and we charged the driver for negligent driving causing injury," he said.

"There were four passengers excluding the driver in the vehicle and all of them were brought to the hospital including the driver. There were no major injuries."

All five occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, were swiftly transported to the hospital for medical treatment.

The Commissioner emphasized the importance of responsible driving and cautioned motorists to adhere to road safety regulations. 

"Negligent driving can have serious consequences, as evidenced by this unfortunate incident," he stated.

Local authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash to determine the exact cause and sequence of events leading up to the accident.

A bystander from Magiagi who did not want to be named explained that while she was on her way to work, she saw people in their white attires surrounding the vehicle which was upside down on Sunday morning.

"I understand the driver is a mother in her 40s and it looked quite serious and caused such a drama this morning for most people who were preparing to go to church," she explained.

"I just hope no one lost their life."

Meanwhile, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of reckless driving and the importance of exercising caution while on the road. As the investigation unfolds, residents of Samoa are urged to prioritise safety and vigilance to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.