Four people, including two brothers, were injured after an allegedly drunk driver lost control of his electric vehicle and rammed into multiple vehicles near Kanaiya Namkeen at Sarthana Jakat Naka in Surat on Tuesday night.
The accused has been identified as Vijay Shambhubhai Bhikhadia (32), an architect originally from Kundli village in Bhavnagar district's Talaja taluka. He currently resides in Purushottam Nagar Society near Shyamdham Temple in the Sarthana area of Surat.
According to police and local sources, the incident occurred on June 3 when Bhikhadia was driving his EV near Sarthana Jakat Naka. He allegedly lost control of the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
The car first hit a motorcycle carrying brothers Rohit Sarkhwada (24) and Ajay Sarkhwada (20), residents of Sargam Society in Punagam. The speeding vehicle then crashed into a scooter ridden by Rekhaben Pragjibhai Lakhani (53) and Hinaben Savani (37), both residents of the Sarthana Jakat Naka area.
The vehicle subsequently rammed into a car parked on the roadside, causing extensive damage to the motorcycle and the parked vehicle.
Local residents rushed to the scene and shifted the injured victims to a nearby private hospital for treatment. According to local sources, all four victims sustained serious injuries, including fractures and crush injuries to their limbs.
Eyewitnesses alleged that the driver appeared heavily intoxicated and was unable to stand properly after the accident. Angered by the incident, locals reportedly pulled him out of the vehicle and assaulted him. Some members of the crowd also damaged the EV by smashing its windows.
A team from Sarthana Police Station reached the spot after receiving information about the crash, rescued the accused from the mob and brought the situation under control.
During a search of the vehicle, police reportedly recovered an empty beer bottle. Bhikhadia was taken into custody and a case was registered against him for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and endangering public safety.
Police said further investigation is underway. CCTV footage of the incident has also surfaced and is being examined as part of the probe.
