Four killed in hit-and-run crash in Vapi

SURAT: A speeding sport utility vehicle (SUV) belonging to a municipal councillor of Vapi Municipality rammed into two scooters, resulting in the death of four people opposite Chanod Colony Gate on Vapi Silvassa Road around 11.30pm on Friday.
The victims worked in local industries and belonged to Vapi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The deceased were Vivek Vanraj Godani, 24; Ajay Shivpujan Mali, 20; Dilip Bhimsen Trivedi, 19; and Vipin Rajesh Prasad Trivedi, 21.They were going towards Vapi GIDC when the SUV hit them and crashed in a wall. The driver escaped from the SUV which was badly damaged in the accident, eyewitnesses told police. The SUV belongs to Aarti Patel, BJP municipal councillor from ward no 7 of Vapi Municipality. Her husband Rajendra was called by the police for questioning but so far they have not been able to find out who was driving the vehicle. The police have registered an offence against an unidentified driver, saying that someone known to the vehicle owner was at the wheel and that they would soon find out.
“We have been told by the car owner’s husband that a friend of his had borrowed the vehicle from him and gave it to someone else. The car was exchanged between the drivers and hence it is proving to be difficult to identify the person who was at the wheel when the accident happened. We are yet to question the friends of the SUV owner,” said H B Patel, police inspector, Vapi GIDC police station.