A four year old girl and a 38 year old man are dead after the bus they were travelling in veered off the road and went down a slope near Navutu Bridge between Sigatoka and Nadi just after 1pm today.

Nadi Police have confirmed both the deceased were on their way to Suva when the accident occurred.

42 passengers who sustained serious injuries have have been taken to the Nadi hospital, while some other passengers have been taken to Sigatoka hospital.

Police have also confirmed that the bus was loaded with house paints which splashed onto passengers during the accident.

Meanwhile, a team of Police officers are trying to locate the driver of the bus who fled the scene after the accident.

An eyewitness told Fijivillage that the driver lost control of the bus at a bend, and veered off the road went down a slope and tumbled over.