Vadodara:
The 20-year-old student of law, whose vehicle plowed into passing cars and pedestrians on the street, killing one and injuring multiple others in Vadodara, informed the police that he couldn’t see ahead because airbags had deployed in the car.
Driver Rakshit Chaurasiya and his friend had gone to watch Holika Dahan, a bonfire on the night of Holi, and were returning from Dera Circle after dropping off a friend. “We were moving in front of a scooty, we were turning right and there was a pothole in the road. There was a scooty and a car waiting near the right turn. Our car hit the scooter and the airbags came on. I don’t know where the car went after that,” he explained, adding that the car was moving at 50-60 kmph at the time of the accident.
He also initially denied consuming any intoxicants, but then confessed to having taken bhaang (cannabis). He also pleaded to meet the victims’ families and expressed that the accident was his fault. “I have been informed that one woman is dead and some have got injuries. I wish to meet the victims’ family, it’s my fault and whatever they want should be done,” he said.
A viral video of the Thursday night crash shows the vehicle crashing into several other cars at a crowded intersection in the Karelibaug locality of Vadodara. The accident resulted in the on-the-spot death of a woman who was later found to be Hemaliben Patel. The crash also seriously injured three to four others, including Jaini (12), Nishaben (35), an unidentified 10-year-old girl and an unidentified 40-year-old man.
Videos following the accident revealed the friend of the driver exiting the vehicle, distraught at the accident his friend had caused. The driver subsequently exited the vehicle, unsteady and yelling incoherent phrases. He then kept yelling “Another round” and “Om Namah Shivay.”.
Leena Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police, corroborated that the driver was drunk and had been arrested. Vadodara Police Commissioner Narasimha Komar told that there were over three vehicles in the accident, two running vehicles, and one EV (Electric Vehicle).
In a video footage uploaded by news agency ANI, the 23-year-old is limping awkwardly and holding on to his ears while he was being led by police to the site of the accident.
Chaurasia was part of the car accident that occurred in the early hours of March 14 when a speeding four-wheeler driven by him crashed into a two-wheeler. The accident caused one woman to die while eight others got injured, police revealed on Saturday.
Although Rakshit Ravish Chaurasia is already under police custody, Vadodara Police Commissioner Narasimha Komar mentioned that there were over three vehicles involved. Among them were two operating vehicles and one EV (Electric Vehicle).
Police raise charges against Rakshit Chaurasia
The Gujarat police mentioned that it has filed a case against the accused under the Motor Vehicle Acts and the forensic team is gathering evidence as the investigation is ongoing.
“We have filed a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder besides sections under the Motor Vehicle Acts. Police and Forensic teams have collected the physical and material evidence,” the police stated.
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“When he (the accused) was driving the vehicle, Pranshu Chauhan was the only other person with him in his vehicle. Whether they were drunk or not and whether they were on any drugs – for this purpose, their blood samples have been taken. Police are conducting all the investigatory exercise. We will charge the accused with all the physical, scientific and forensic proofs. Eight individuals were injured, one lady succumbed to the injuries, and seven are undergoing treatment,” he further said.
