Drunk driver car near Vadodara police commissioner’s bungalow, admits to drinking

In a chilling late-night incident that could have turned fatal, a visibly drunk driver recklessly sped through the streets of Vadodara before crashing his car into a road divider just outside the residence of the city’s police commissioner. Shockingly, the accused later admitted to having consumed alcohol while driving from Ahmedabad.

The dramatic incident took place around midnight on Sunday in the city’s upscale Alkapuri area. Eyewitnesses said the driver of a Hyundai i20 was seen dangerously swerving along the main road, heading from the Alkapuri stormwater canal area towards Racecourse Road. Several motorists were forced to steer clear as the car veered unpredictably, putting lives at risk.

One auto-rickshaw driver captured the entire episode on his mobile phone, showing the vehicle ramming into a road divider and nearly colliding with other vehicles. The footage, now widely circulated on social media, has raised renewed concerns over drunk driving in the city.

The driver, later identified as Kalubhai Jodhabhai Satiya, a resident of Surat, stopped his vehicle right outside the police commissioner’s bungalow, where he reportedly began arguing with bystanders. This led to immediate intervention by Akota police, who arrived at the scene and placed him under arrest.

A case has been registered against Satiya under the Prohibition Act, and he was taken to the police station for further questioning.

Speaking to the police, Satiya admitted, “I live in Surat but had travelled to Ahmedabad. On my way back, I consumed liquor while driving.”

Eyewitness Nikulbhai, who had a near-miss, recounted the moment, “I saw him from near the Alkapuri canal and he almost hit my rickshaw. I feared it could become another Rakshit-type case, so I followed him. He hit the divider hard. He was completely drunk. Luckily, the traffic signal was green at the time. Had it been red, he might have run over several people.”

This incident has once again drawn attention to reckless and intoxicated driving in Vadodara, reminiscent of the notorious Rakshit hit-and-run case. Despite heightened awareness, such instances continue to endanger public safety.