A car driven by a drunk man knocked down four pedestrians at two separate spots in quick succession in the Mukhani area of the city, leaving a woman critically injured, police said on Monday.
The driver, identified as Pankaj (45), a resident of Mukhani, was dragged out of the vehicle and thrashed by an angry crowd before being rescued by a police team.
The incident took place on Sunday night when Pankaj was driving from Unchapul toward the city via Kaladhungi Road. Police said he first hit three pedestrians between the Mukhani and Kaladhungi intersections.
He then drove past the Jail Road junction toward the Kalu Siddha Baba temple, where he hit a woman walking on the roadside. The impact threw her several feet away. Bystanders rushed her to a hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment. Doctors said that her condition remains critical.
After hitting the woman, the vehicle came to a halt when it crashed into an electricity pole. Onlookers pulled the driver out of the vehicle and beat him up.
A police team reached the spot upon receiving information and brought the driver to the Kotwali police station.
Kotwali inspector Vijay Mehta said medical examination confirmed that the accused was under the influence of liquor. A case has been registered against him under relevant sections, and an investigation is under way.
