NEW DELHI — A night of leisure turned into a scene of carnage in Northwest Delhi’s Model Town late Friday night, April 24, 2026. A high-speed luxury sedan lost control and plowed into a crowded e-rickshaw, killing a 33-year-old man and leaving five others battling for their lives.

The collision, which occurred near the Model Town metro station, has once again cast a spotlight on the deadly combination of speeding and nighttime traffic in the capital.

Witnesses describe a harrowing scene shortly after 11:00 p.m. local time. The e-rickshaw, carrying a group of friends returning from a local market, was struck from behind with such force that it was flipped nearly 20 feet. The speeding car, identified by police as a white sedan, reportedly did not break before the impact.

Emergency responders arrived to find the e-rickshaw reduced to a heap of mangled metal and plastic. The crash claimed the life of a 33-year-old local resident, who was declared dead on arrival at the hospital due to severe head trauma. Five other passengers, aged 22 to 45, are currently receiving treatment, with two remaining in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The driver of the speeding car initially attempted to flee the scene but was intercepted by a PCR (Police Control Room) van patrolling nearby.

Delhi Police have initiated a criminal case under the Indian Penal Code for rash driving and causing death by negligence. Preliminary forensic evidence indicates the vehicle was traveling at nearly double the residential speed limit during the impact. To determine if impairment was a factor, authorities have collected blood samples from the driver for DUI testing, with toxicology results expected within 48 hours.

This incident underscores the rising vulnerability of "last-mile" transport vehicles in Delhi. E-rickshaws, while essential for local mobility, offer almost no structural protection in high-speed collisions.

"It wasn't just an accident; it was a total disregard for life," said an eyewitness who helped pull survivors from the wreckage. "The car was flying. The rickshaw stood no chance."

Local residents have gathered near the site on Saturday, demanding stricter speed enforcement and better lighting along the Model Town stretch, which has become a hotspot for late-night speeding.