Mechanic called to fix flat tyre killed after hit by ‘speeding’ car in Delhi

At around 1.30 am, three friends were returning from a wedding when their car, a Chevrolet Aveo, suffered a flat tyre close to the Moolchand underpass.

A mechanic who was preparing to fix a flat tyre was killed when he was hit allegedly by a speeding car on the Ring Road in south Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar on Sunday morning. Four others were injured in the incident, police said.

Mechanic called to fix flat tyre killed after hit by ‘speeding’ car in Delhi. (Representative Image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

According to eyewitnesses, the impact of the hit was such that the 24-year-old mechanic, Mohammad Afaq, fell on the bonnet of the allegedly speeding car, a Chevrolet Cruze, and was dragged for some distance before it came to a stop. Its driver, 21-year-old Ananya Khurana was later arrested.

At around 1.30 am, three friends were returning from a wedding when their car, a Chevrolet Aveo, suffered a flat tyre close to the Moolchand underpass. “We parked on the side and switched on the parking indicators,” said Rudra Ashish Panda, one of the occupants of the Aveo.

He said they contacted Afaq who was referred to them by a mechanic they found on a mobile-based app.

“Afaq and I came in an auto-rickshaw with a new tyre,” said Afaq’s brother-in-law Mohammed Afzal. “We were negotiating the price when a speeding car hit the Aveo, then its three occupants, the auto driver and Afaq.”

“Afaq was thrown into the air and landed on the car’s bonnet. He was dragged for about 50 metres before the car stopped. I escaped unhurt and began moving the injured,” said Afzal.

“Ananya and her friends got down from the vehicle and blamed us,” said Panda who suffered minor injuries. “They then abandoned the car and left.”

The injured, except the auto driver who suffered minor injuries, were moved to AIIMS trauma centre where Afaq died during treatment. One of Panda’s friends was discharged, while another underwent surgery.

The police registered a case of causing death due to negligence and rash driving. Khurana, a resident of Lajpat Nagar, was arrested almost 15 hours after the mishap, prompting Afaq’s family to suspect a cover up attempt. DCP Chinmoy Biswal denied this.

He said that the breath test of the woman did not indicate she was inebriated. “We have, however, sent her blood sample for testing,” said the officer, adding that she had a valid driving licence. “During questioning, seh said that the Aveo was parked in the middle of the road and there was no indicator. She said she left the spot because she was afraid of the crowd.”

A resident of Zakir Nagar, Afaq is survived by his wife, a daughter, parents and five siblings.