An Indian billionaire and husband of a Bollywood star is under investigation for allegedly causing a car crash on the Italian island of Sardinia that killed two Swiss nationals.
Hospitality and real estate magnate Vikas Oberoi, 54, is said to have driven a Lamborghini last week as part of an Italian supercar tour with his film star wife Gayatri Joshi in the passenger seat.
The pair were hiding behind a large white camper on a single-lane road when a red Ferrari approached at high speed in an attempt to overtake both Oberoi and the camper in front of them.
Shocking dashcam footage showed the Lamborghini suddenly veering from behind the camper into the path of the oncoming Ferrari, resulting in a massive crash that saw the camper flip over and the cars flying off the road.
The red car, which also overturned, immediately caught fire and ended up in a blazing fire from which Swiss nationals Marcus and Melissa Krautli could not escape.
Oberoi and Joshi miraculously escaped without injuries Gayatri, who starred in the Bollywood blockbuster Swades and told India’s Free Press Journal: ‘Vikas and I are in Italy. We had an accident here (multi-car collision). By God’s grace, we’re both doing just fine.’
But now prosecutors in Cagliari have opened an investigation into ‘double traffic homicide’, meaning her husband could face up to seven years in prison if charged and found guilty.
Billionaire Vikas Oberoi, 54, drove a Lamborghini last week as part of an Italian supercar tour with his movie star wife Gayatri Joshi in the passenger seat
An Indian couple involved in the crash who escaped without injury have been identified as Bollywood actress Gayatri Joshi and her husband Vikas Oberoi. Pictured: The couple at a comedy show in Mumbai in 2011
You see how the blue Lamborghini tries to overtake the white camper in front of it
But seconds later the red Ferrari behind it can be seen trying to overtake at the same time, causing the Lamborghini to end up underneath the camper, which is then violently tipped on its side.
A police officer examines the damaged Ferrari after the fatal crash
Oberoi is considered one of the richest men in India.
He owns a major luxury hotel resort chain that operates dozens of locations in India and abroad, as well as seven luxury cruise ships.
The tycoon is also the head of Oberoi Realty, a real estate developer that builds and sells luxury properties in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, the Swiss couple burned Mr and Mrs Krautli, from Wallisellen, near Zurich, to death in the aftermath of the horrific incident, according to local media.
Mr. Krautli worked at the family logistics company, which bore his name and had offices in Belgium, Switzerland and Portugal.
A couple from Selva di Val Gardena, aged 61 and 62, who were traveling in the camper, were injured and taken to hospital.
‘We were lying sideways in our chairs. For a moment we were silent in disbelief. Then I looked my wife in the eyes and asked her if everything was okay. She nodded,” Lorenzo M, who was in the camper, told Italian news channel L’Unione Sarda.
The couple crawled out from between the seats and were able to escape from the vehicle.
“When we came out we thought we were in hell,” he added.
The Ferrari was on fire and screams could be heard everywhere at the crash site, Bild reports.
Images show the destroyed vehicle on the side of the road.
Police in Sardinia confirmed the identities of the victims: Marcus and Melissa Krautli, from Wallisellen near Zurich
Gayatri, pictured here with her husband Vikas at a party for the film ‘Speedy Singh’ in 2011, said: ‘By God’s grace, we are fine’
Mr. Krautli worked at the family logistics company Krautli, which had offices in Belgium, Switzerland and Portugal
The blue Lamborghini is badly damaged on the side of the road
The video shows a line of colorful sports cars making their way through southern Sardinia
The Ferrari connects with the Lamborghini, which causes the crash
A firefighter sprays the Ferrari after the crash. The Swiss tourists who died in the Ferrari were 63 and 6 years old
The supercars drove on national road 195 Sulcitana in the municipality of San Giovanni Suergiu in southern Sardinia
In the video, Oberoi’s blue Lamborghini Huracan is shown badly damaged on the side of the road, surrounded by a cloud of dust and smoke, as the camper blocks both lanes.
Another video of the aftermath shows several sports cars not involved in the collision parked along the road.
People have gathered next to the wrecked Lamborghini and overturned camper as black smoke billows from the flaming Ferrari, while an ambulance crew is also at the scene.
The remains of the three vehicles have been seized by authorities as investigations continue.
The supercars drove on national road 195 Sulcitana in the municipality of San Giovanni Suergiu in southern Sardinia.
The couple had left Forte Village and were on their way to Mores, Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported.
According to Italian media, all occupants of the luxury cars took part in the Sardinia Supercar Experience event, which started in Teulada and would end in Olbia.
For several days, participants drive around the island in Ferraris and Lamborghinis, visiting viewpoints and staying overnight in expensive hotels.
If tourists travel with their own car, the trip will cost £10,409. A multi-day trip in a rented Ferrari SF90 from the organizer can be booked for £21,515.