Vadodara, March 15 – A spine-chilling hit-and-run accident rocked Vadodara when a speeding vehicle knocked down five individuals, leaving a woman dead and others seriously injured. The 20-year-old law student Rakshit Chaurasiya, accused in the case, has refuted getting drunk and attributed the accident to a pothole and an unexpected deployment of the airbag.
Accused’s Defense: “Wasn’t Drunk, Wasn‘t Speeding”
Appearing before the press, Chaurasiya had said that he was driving back home from having watched Holika Dahan when he wasn’t drinking alcohol or using drugs. He declared, “There‘s a pothole just a little distance before the junction. My car ran over a scooter in front and the airbag inflated, obliterating the view and resulting in the impact.”
But a viral clip from the site disputes his claim. In the clip, Chaurasiya can be seen clearly drunk, staggering out of the vehicle and screaming “another round” while people attempted to hold him back. The clip also suggests the vehicle was doing high speed prior to the crash, contrary to Chaurasiya‘s denial that it was only going 50 kmph.
Eyewitnesses and Police Say Otherwise
The accident occurred at about 12:30 AM in the Karelibag locality, where Chaurasiya‘s car reportedly hit two scooters, pulling the riders, before finally stopping. Hemani Patel, one of the victims, was out riding with her minor daughter to purchase Holi colors when she was killed. The injured, including the child, were taken to a hospital.Vadodara Police have confirmed that Chaurasiya was actually drunk and driving at a high speed, as he had denied. Senior officer Panna Momaya said, “The car was speeding and ran over several people. We have filed an FIR and are studying CCTV footage for more evidence.”
Second Accused Arrested Too
Another suspect, Mit Chauhan, the owner of the car and co-passenger of Chaurasiya, has also been taken into custody. Chauhan, a student of a private university in Vadodara, is being medically examined to test whether he also was drunk.
Justice to the Victims
As the probe continues, the victims’ families are calling for stern action against the accused. The case has evoked anger, with people demanding stricter enforcement against drunk and reckless driving.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
