The Ahmedabad hit-and-run investigation has widened after police identified Sagar, a friend of alleged driver Viral Chaudhary, as the second occupant of the Toyota Fortuner that struck four people on a footpath in Nikol on the night of November 2. Two people, a mother and her 15-year-old son, died in the crash, while a couple remains seriously injured.
According to the investigation reported by Divya Bhaskar, Chaudhary and Sagar had been drinking beer at Sagar’s home before leaving in the car to have dinner. Police said Chaudhary later opened another beer can while driving because he felt he had not consumed enough alcohol. The vehicle then went out of control and climbed onto the footpath near Akshar Hospital and Devsya School at around 9.30-9.45 pm.
The crash killed Poonamben Jitendrabhai Nagwadia and her 15-year-old son Sagar Nagwadia, who were selling sofa covers and traditional clothing on the footpath. Karthik Vasoya, 34, and his wife Snehalbenn Vasoya, also 34, were shopping at the location and suffered serious injuries. They are undergoing treatment, according to the report.
The impact trapped one person near the vehicle. Local residents reportedly lifted the car to help remove him. Chaudhary, who was seated at the steering wheel, was held by people at the scene and handed over to the police. Sagar allegedly left the vehicle and fled amid the crowd after the crash.
Police said the driver’s medical examination indicated that he was intoxicated. Six beer cans were also found in the Fortuner. Traffic East Division police are preparing to register a case against Sagar under the prohibition law as a co-accused, based on the allegation that he consumed alcohol with Chaudhary and did not stop him despite knowing that alcohol was present in the vehicle.
At the same time, investigators are expected to record Sagar’s statement as an eyewitness. Since he was reportedly inside the car during the crash, police believe his account may help establish who was driving and whether Chaudhary was consuming alcohol while the vehicle was moving. The report did not specify the sections under which the proposed case would be registered.
Police identified Chaudhary as a 36-year-old resident of Nana Chiloda who is involved in the steel-engineering business in Bakrol. A statement attributed to former Traffic East Deputy Commissioner of Police Naresh Kanzariya said the driver was travelling home when the accident occurred. Police also said that Chaudhary had no previous criminal record.
The same Fortuner had previously received an e-challan for overspeeding, according to the report. Traffic police issued the challan on February 26, 2026, after the vehicle was allegedly detected travelling at high speed near the Karai cut on S.P. Ring Road. The current investigation is now focused on the driver’s alleged intoxication, the role of the second occupant and the legal responsibility arising from the deaths and injuries.
The next steps are the registration of the proposed case against Sagar, the recording of his statement and further investigation by Nikol police and the Traffic East Division.
