Three people — including a Delhi-based woman event manager and a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) employee — were killed after a speeding car ploughed into them on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan's Alwar district late on Wednesday night. The victims were changing a punctured tyre on the roadside when the vehicle struck them near the Gurjar Khora culvert, under the jurisdiction of Laxmangarh police station.

Who the Victims Were

According to Sub-Inspector Hariman of Laxmangarh police station, the three deceased have been identified as Manisha Gupta (26), an event manager from Trilokpuri, Delhi; Azad (30), the cab driver from Ajmer; and Jagmohan (25), an NHAI employee from Sheetal village in Alwar. All three sustained severe head injuries and died at the spot.

How the Accident Unfolded

Manisha Gupta and another woman, identified as Asma, were travelling to Jaipur by cab at around 1.30 am when the vehicle suffered a tyre puncture near the Gurjar Khora culvert. The cab driver, Azad, called the NHAI helpline for assistance. Jagmohan, responding to the call with colleagues, arrived at the site shortly after. While Jagmohan was speaking with Manisha to gather details, a speeding car approaching from the Delhi side struck them — first hitting Manisha and Jagmohan, then running over Azad as he worked on the tyre. The car subsequently overturned on the roadside a few metres ahead.

The driver of the car fled the scene following the collision. Notably, Asma — the second passenger in the cab — also went missing after the accident. Other NHAI personnel present at the spot alerted the police.

Investigation Under Way

Police are reviewing CCTV footage from cameras installed along the expressway to identify the absconding driver. Documents recovered from the crashed car are being examined to establish the ownership and identity of the driver, according to Sub-Inspector Hariman. Authorities are also questioning residents and workers in surrounding areas as part of the probe.

The bodies of the three victims have been kept at the Badodamev Community Health Centre (CHC). Their families were notified during the night itself.

A Pattern of Expressway Fatalities

This incident adds to a troubling record of highway accidents in Rajasthan, particularly on high-speed corridors. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, designed for rapid long-distance travel, has seen multiple fatalities involving stopped or slow-moving vehicles in emergency situations. Critics and road-safety advocates have long argued that adequate breakdown bays, emergency lighting, and faster NHAI response times are essential to preventing such tragedies — especially during late-night hours when visibility is poor and vehicle speeds are unchecked.

With the driver still at large and a key eyewitness — Asma — missing, investigators face significant pressure to close the case quickly.