Indian billionaire who was driving Lamborghini with his Bollywood star wife during Sardinia supercar crash that saw Swiss couple burn to death is investigated for ‘road homicide’ – which carries seven-year jail term

• Hospitality and real estate tycoon Vikas Oberoi and filmstar wife survived crash
• Swiss couple Marcus and Melissa Krautli burned to death in aftermath of smash
• Now Italian prosecutors have opened invesigation into ‘double road homicide’ 

An Indian billionaire and husband of a Bollywood star is under investigation for allegedly causing a horror car smash which killed two Swiss nationals on the Italian island of Sardinia.

Hospitality and real estate tycoon Vikas Oberoi, 54, was allegedly driving a Lamborghini as part of an Italian supercar tour last week with his filmstar wife Gayatri Joshi sitting in the passenger seat.

The pair were tucked up behind a large white motorhome on a single lane road as a red Ferrari approached at a high speed in an attempt to overtake both Oberoi and the RV in front. 

Shocking dash cam footage showed how the Lamborghini suddenly darted out from behind the motorhome into the path of the oncoming Ferrari, resulting in a huge crash that flipped the RV and sent the cars careening off the road. 

The red car, which also flipped upside down, immediately caught fire and whipped into a blazing inferno from which Swiss nationals Marcus and Melissa Krautli were unable to escape. 

Oberoi and Joshi miraculously escaped without injury, with Gayatri, who starred in Bollywood blockbuster Swades, telling India’s Free Press Journal: ‘Vikas and I are in Italy. We met with an accident here (multiple-car collision)… With God’s grace, we both are absolutely fine.’ 

But now, prosecutors in Cagliari have opened an investigation into ‘double road homicide’, meaning her husband could face up to seven years in jail if charged and found guilty.

Billionaire Vikas Oberoi, 54, was driving a Lamborghini as part of an Italian supercar tour last week with his filmstar wife Gayatri Joshi sitting in the passenger seat 

An Indian couple involved in the crash and who escaped without injury were identified as Bollywood actress Gayatri Joshi and her husband Vikas Oberoi. Pictured: The couple at a comedy show in Mumbai in 2011

The blue Lamborghini can be seen trying to overtake the white campervan driving in front of it 

But seconds later footage shows the red Ferrari behind it trying to overtake at the same time, causing the Lamborghini to smash underneath the campervan, which is then violently flipped onto its side

A policeman views the damaged Ferrari after the deadly crash

Oberoi is believed to be one of India’s richest men.

He owns a large luxury hotel resort chain which operates dozens of locations in India and beyond, as well as seven luxury cruise liners.

The tycoon is also the head of Oberoi Realty, a real estate developer which builds and sells luxury properties in Mumbai. 

Meanwhile, Swiss couple Mr and Mrs Krautli, who hailed from Wallisellen, near Zurich, burned to death in the aftermath of the horrific incident, according to local media.

Mr Krautli worked at the family logistics firm, 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 travelling in the motorhome were injured and taken to hospital. 

‘We were lying sideways in our seats. For a moment we were silent in disbelief. Then I looked into my wife’s eyes and asked her if she was okay. She nodded,’ Lorenzo M, who was sitting in the RV, told Italian news outlet L’Unione Sarda. 

The couple crawled out from between the seats and were able to escape the vehicle.

‘When we came out we thought we were in hell,’ he added. 

The Ferrari was on fire and screams could be heard from all around the crash site, Bild reports. 

Images show the wrecked vehicle at the side of the road.  

Police in Sardinia confirmed the identities of the victims as Marcus and Melissa Krautli, from Wallisellen near Zurich

Gayatri, pictured here with her husband Vikas at a party for the movie ‘Speedy Singh’ in 2011, said: ‘With God’s grace, we are absolutely fine’

Mr Krautli worked at the family logistics firm called Krautli, which had offices in Belgium, Switzerland and Portugal

The blue Lamborghini is shown heavily damaged at the side of the road 

In the video a line of colourful sports cars can be seen making their way up the road in South Sardinia

The Ferrari connects with the Lamborghini, which causes the crash

A firefighter spraying the Ferrari after the crash. The Swiss tourists who died in the Ferrari were aged 63 and 6

The supercars were driving on the 195 Sulcitana state road in the commune of San Giovanni Suergiu in South Sardinia

In the video, Oberoi’s blue Lamborghini Huracan is shown heavily damaged at the side of the road surrounded by a cloud of dust and smoke, with the campervan blocking both lanes.

Another video of the aftermath shows some of the sports cars that were not involved in the collision parked at the roadside. 

There are people gathered beside the ruined Lamborghini and the overturned campervan as black smoke emanates from the flaming Ferrari, with an ambulance crew also present at the scene. 

The remains of the three vehicles have been seized by the authorities as the investigation continues. 

The supercars were driving on the 195 Sulcitana state road in the commune of San Giovanni Suergiu in South Sardinia.

The couple had departed from Forte Village and were heading for Mores, Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera reports.

According to Italian media, all occupants of the luxury cars took part in the Sardinia Supercar Experience event, which started in Teulada and was set to finish in Olbia.

Over the course of a few days, the participants drive across the island in Ferraris and Lamborghinis, visit viewpoints and stay overnight in expensive hotels.

If tourists travel in their own car, the trip costs £10,409. A multi-day trip in a rental Ferrari SF90 from the organiser can be booked for £21,515.

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