A 17-year-old allegedly driving a rented Audi hit and killed a pedestrian in Southwest Delhi’s Kishangarh area late Sunday, after losing control of the vehicle and striking two parked cars, police said. The teenager has been apprehended and the car seized.
The pedestrian was identified by police as Umashankar, aged around 45. The incident took place at approximately 2.30 am while the teenager was returning from a friend’s birthday party, according to an officer quoted by The Indian Express.
“On Sunday, the 17-year-old rented an Audi through an app for the night to go to a friend’s birthday party. While returning home, the teen allegedly lost control of the vehicle and hit two parked cars on the roadside, before ramming into the pedestrian,” the officer said.
The collision left Umashankar seriously injured. He was taken to the JPN Apex Trauma Centre, where he was declared brought dead, police said. The sequence described by investigators places the pedestrian near the roadside when the vehicle struck him after hitting the parked cars.
Police have registered an FIR at Kishangarh police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to causing death by negligence and rash driving, along with relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. The investigation will examine the circumstances of the crash, the teenager’s driving and the rental of the vehicle.
The case also brings attention to the practical enforcement challenges surrounding access to motor vehicles by underage drivers. While the police account identifies the driver as 17, the supplied report does not specify the rental platform’s verification process, the identity of the person who booked the Audi or whether any adult was involved in facilitating access to the vehicle.
The crash occurred on a city road where parked vehicles became part of the reported chain of events. Police have not released further details on the road layout, speed of the Audi, lighting conditions or whether traffic cameras or other evidence were available at the location. These details are expected to form part of the investigation.
The Audi remains in police custody as investigators proceed with the case. Further action will depend on the findings recorded in the FIR and the ongoing investigation by the Kishangarh police.
