Vadodara Car Crash: Accused Rakshit Chaurasia Denies Drunk Driving, Claims Loss of Control
The accident took place around 12:30 am near Muktanand Cross Roads in the Karelibaug area.
Vadodara Car Crash Latest News Today: In a tragic incident in Vadodara, Gujarat, 23-year-old Rakshit Ravish Chaurasia allegedly crashed his car into multiple vehicles, killing a woman and injuring four others. However, Chaurasia denied being intoxicated at the time of the crash and instead claimed that the accident was caused by potholes on the road.
The accident took place around 12:30 am near Muktanand Cross Roads in the Karelibaug area. Following the crash, Chaurasia was arrested, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Panna Momaya.
Eyewitnesses at the scene stated that Chaurasia appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, with some reporting that he was heard shouting "another round, another round" after exiting the car. Despite this, Chaurasia maintained his innocence, insisting that the crash was not due to drunk driving.
In a statement to the media, Chaurasia explained that he was driving at 50 km/h when he lost control of the vehicle because of potholes. "The car was running at a speed of around 50 kmph, and I lost control due to the potholes. There was a scooter and a car involved. I was not drunk," he said. He also expressed deep regret, calling the incident an "understatement" and saying he wanted to meet the family of the deceased woman to offer his apologies.
Chaurasia, who was reportedly returning from a Holika Dahan event, denied being drunk, explaining that when the airbags deployed, he panicked and mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. He also denied shouting a name after exiting the car, attributing it to "a state of panic."
On social media, reactions to Chaurasia's claim of innocence have sparked outrage. One user on X (formerly Twitter) questioned the decision to allow an accused individual to hold a press conference, while others compared the case to a similar hit-and-run incident involving a teenage driver in Pune.
The woman killed in the crash has been identified as Hemali Patel, who was riding a scooter at the time. Police said Chaurasia, originally from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is a law student living in a PG accommodation in Vadodara. The car involved in the crash belonged to Chaurasia's friend, Mit Chauhan, who was seated in the co-driver’s seat. Police are now working to track down Chauhan.
A video captured by a bystander shows Chauhan blaming Chaurasia for the crash. Meanwhile, Chaurasia, appearing incoherent, is heard repeatedly shouting, "Another round?" before being restrained and handed over to the police by the bystanders.
CCTV footage shows the speeding car hitting two scooters, dragging the riders along before coming to a stop. "The car was overspeeding, and it could potentially be a case of drunk driving. We will conduct a medical test to confirm if alcohol was involved," said the Deputy Commissioner of Police. Chaurasia does hold a valid driving license.