Delhi hit-and-run: Delivery rider killed, mother cries for justice
A speeding car killed a 25-year-old delivery rider in west Delhi early Saturday. The crash occurred near Subhash Nagar Metro station in Delhi. The victim, Hem Shankar, supported his struggling family. Now, his mother says she has no one left.
Crash in the Early Hours
Police said the accident took place around 3 am in Subhash Nagar. A car rammed Hem’s scooter from behind. The impact threw him off the vehicle and caused fatal injuries.
Locals rushed to the spot. Visuals showed a black car with a crushed front hood and shattered windshield. Airbags had deployed. Witnesses claimed the car moved at very high speed.
Soon after, police detained the driver. Officers identified him as Mohit Kumar, 27, a resident of Najafgarh. He works as a contractor with the Municipal Corporation. Police seized the vehicle and began questioning him.
Family Shattered by Loss
Meanwhile, Hem’s mother struggled to speak through tears. She said her son ran the entire household. Earlier, she had lost her husband in 2015. Since then, Hem had stepped up as the sole earning member.
She recalled that he left home around 8:30 pm on Friday. Usually, he worked night shifts and returned by morning. However, tragedy struck before dawn.
One of Hem’s friends knocked on the door to inform her about the accident. She rushed out. When she reached the hospital and saw her son’s body, she fainted. The crash severed one of his legs.
“I have no one left,” she said. “First my husband, now my son. Who will feed us?”
A Struggle for Survival
Hem, whom family members called Rohit, began working as a rider four years ago. He earned a few thousand rupees each month from night deliveries. He took extra shifts to repay family debts.
Recently, he bought an electric scooter on loan. The vehicle cost around Rs 40,000. He used his savings and borrowed about Rs 20,000 to cover the rest.
His brother-in-law, Surendra Kumar, said Hem carried financial burdens beyond his age. After their father died, the family lived in a single-room house. Hem’s mother worked as a domestic helper to raise her three sons. Later, cataract and high blood pressure forced her to stop working. Hem then took full responsibility.
Moreover, his elder brother faced losses in a photography business. Hem helped repay those loans as well. Due to financial pressure, he could not complete graduation. Instead, he began working right after school.
Allegations of Reckless Driving
Relatives alleged that the car traveled at 120 to 150 km per hour. They also claimed the driver and another occupant appeared intoxicated. According to family members, the men tried to flee after the airbags deployed. However, staff at a nearby petrol pump intervened and caught them.
The family further alleged that multiple traffic challans remained pending against the driver, mostly for overspeeding. Police have not confirmed that detail.
Demand for Accountability
As grief deepened, anger also surfaced. A cousin blamed drunk and reckless driving for destroying the family’s future. She said careless drivers escape consequences while families suffer lifelong pain.
However, Hem’s brother-in-law said representatives from the delivery company have contacted the family regarding compensation. Still, his mother says money cannot replace her son.
For now, the family waits for legal action. They demand strict punishment. Above all, a grieving mother seeks justice for the son who worked through the night to keep her safe.
