A woman and her 15-year-old son were killed and two other people were injured after a speeding Toyota Fortuner allegedly mounted a footpath and rammed into people near Devasya International School in the Nikol area of Ahmedabad on Monday night, November 2. The crash took place at around 9:30 pm, when the victims were at the roadside selling clothes, news agency IANS reported.

Source: IANS via Hi India

Police identified the woman who died as Poonamben Nagwaria. She and her son were sitting on the footpath when the SUV struck them, and both later succumbed to their injuries, according to the subsequent police investigation reported by IANS. The two injured people were identified as Karthik Pasuya and his wife Snehalben, who had come to buy clothes.

9:30 pm, Nov 2Time of the crash in Nikol
2People killed — a mother and her 15-year-old son
2Others injured
6Beer cans police say were found inside the SUV

Driver arrested; police probing whether he was under the influence

The Fortuner was being driven by Viral Savjibhai Chaudhary, a 36-year-old businessman residing in Nana Chiloda, police said. The vehicle belonged to him, and he was apprehended and taken into custody after the crash. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic, East) Nareshkumar Kanzaria said the driver was allegedly operating the vehicle in a reckless and negligent manner when he struck the people on the footpath.

Six beer cans were found inside the vehicle, police said. Whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicating substance is still being investigated — police have not confirmed intoxication, and that question will depend on medical and forensic findings. A case has been registered against Chaudhary and further investigation is under way, IANS reported.

Source: Nation Press

The crash is among the most serious road incidents reported from Ahmedabad in the run-up to Diwali, when footpaths and roadside markets in areas such as Nikol draw heavy evening crowds of shoppers and vendors.