Bar-hopping before return to US ends in crash at ECIL; 9 hit | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: To celebrate his return to the US, a car driver who allegedly ran over nine pedestrians at ECIL in the early hours of Tuesday consumed liquor with his friends on the eve of his scheduled journey abroad.The accused, E Pavan Kumar, 36, was arrested for allegedly hitting nine pedestrians with his car. The victims, who work at a local bar, were returning home after finishing their shift when the accident occurred.During questioning, Pavan reportedly told police that he had consumed liquor at two different bars with his friend. Later that night, Pavan and his friend Karthik, whose family owns the car, wanted to drink more. Despite allegedly knowing that Pavan did not have a driving licence and was intoxicated, Karthik handed over the car to him.They went to a bar around midnight, but it was closed. While returning home, Pavan allegedly took a bylane near the Municipal Office, fearing that they might encounter police checks on the main road.It was in the narrow lane that the car allegedly hit the nine workers from behind. Karthik was sitting beside Pavan in the car at the time of the accident.Pavan had moved to the US in 2025 and was working at a local company run by a relative. He returned to India in March 2026 for personal work and was scheduled to fly back to the US when the accident occurred.Police have verified CCTV footage of the incident. The nine victims, who sustained injuries, were fortunate to escape.Pavan’s blood sample was collected and sent for forensic examination. Kushaiguda sub-inspector N Venkanna booked him under Sections 110 (culpable homicide), 125(a) (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).Karthik was also booked for allegedly abetting the offence.