Two young men lost their lives after a speeding Hyundai Creta SUV, driven by a drunk driver, jumped the road divider and crashed into their scooter on Ahmedabad’s Naroda-Dehgam road in a tragic incident. The killer accident, captured on CCTV, has raised serious concerns about road safety and reckless driving in the city.
The accident took place late last night when Hyundai Creta driver Gopal Patel was said to have been speeding and overtook an auto-rickshaw at a very high speed. According to footage from a nearby CCTV camera, the SUV lost control and went flying over the divider before landing in the opposite lane. The SUV remained in the air for nearly five seconds, indicating its high speed. On landing, it collided with a Honda Activa scooter driven by Amit Rathore (26) and Vishal Rathore (27), resulting in immediate fatalities.
Following the crash, locals and passersby quickly gathered at the scene, expressing their anger towards the driver. In a moment of outrage, they beat the driver before handing him over to the authorities. The accused, Gopal Patel, was arrested and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Ahmedabad rural police chief, Om Prakash Jat, confirmed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol during the accident. A case of “culpable homicide not amounting to murder” has been filed, and further investigations are underway. The arrest has brought attention to the growing issue of drunk driving, which continues to claim innocent lives on Indian roads.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, over 4.61 lakh accidents were reported in India in 2022, resulting in over 1.68 lakh fatalities. This means that more than 450 people die in road crashes every day in the country. Over-speeding accounted for nearly 75% of these accidents, followed by drunk driving, running red lights, and using mobile phones while driving. The recent Ahmedabad incident highlights the pressing need for stricter enforcement of traffic rules and heightened awareness regarding road safety.
The tragic deaths of Amit and Vishal due to a drunk driver’s negligence are a stark reminder of the dangers of over-speeding and impaired driving. Authorities continue to urge citizens to follow traffic rules, stay sober behind the wheel, and prioritise safety for themselves and others on the road.
