SURAT - A horrifying incident unfolded on the BRTS route in Kapodra when a drunk driver behind the wheel of a speeding Swift car struck three bikers and two pedestrians. The aftermath saw local residents apprehending and assaulting the driver, demanding stern legal action.
The culprit, identified as 27-year-old Sajan Patel from Rajput Falia of Uttaran, was on his way from a birthday party where he reportedly consumed alcohol. Patel, who runs a car trading business, was driving his Swift (with the license plate GJ-05-RR-9995) recklessly along Jawahar Nagar Char Marg. Instead of slowing down, he sped up, resulting in the devastating accident near the Sneh Mudra Society.
Witnesses said Patel, after the collision, made a brazen attempt to flee the scene. The impact of the crash was so severe that it propelled the bikers nearly 20 feet from the point of impact. The car's airbags deployed, and the vehicle finally halted 25 feet from the site of the mishap. An enraged crowd, having witnessed the tragedy, extracted Patel from the car and physically assaulted him before the authorities intervened.
Upon their arrival, the Kapodra police dispatched the injured to a nearby private hospital, where they are currently being treated for severe limb injuries. Meanwhile, Patel, who sustained injuries from the public's retaliation, was admitted to Smear Hospital. Once stabilized, he was promptly arrested by the police.
Eyewitnesses overwhelmingly asserted that Patel was intoxicated during the incident, further fueling their fury. Capodra PI M.B. Vachani confirmed that samples were collected at Smear Hospital to ascertain Patel's alcohol levels. "We're in the process of registering a formal complaint and will proceed with a thorough investigation," Vachani stated.
