On the night of March 12, 2025, a horrific hit-and-run incident shook Dehradun, Uttarakhand, as a speeding Mercedes plowed into a group of pedestrians near Sai Baba Temple on Rajpur Road, killing four and critically injuring two others.
The silver luxury car, bearing a Chandigarh registration number, left a trail of devastation before its driver fled the scene, prompting an intense police manhunt. Authorities are now combing through CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts to bring the culprit to justice in what has become one of the city’s deadliest recent accidents.
The tragedy unfolded around 8 PM on Old Mussoorie Road, a bustling stretch connecting Dehradun to the hill station of Mussoorie. According to Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh, the Mercedes was traveling at an alarming speed when it veered out of control, striking six individuals—four laborers walking along the roadside and two scooter riders. The impact was catastrophic: four victims, all pedestrians, were killed instantly, their bodies flung across the road in a scene that left onlookers horrified. The two scooter riders, though alive, sustained severe injuries and were rushed to Uttaranchal Hospital, where they remain in critical condition.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic aftermath, with the screech of tires and the sickening thud of the collision piercing the evening calm. “It happened so fast,” said Ramesh Kumar, a local shopkeeper who rushed to the scene. “The car didn’t even slow down—it hit them and sped off toward Mussoorie. We tried to help, but for some, it was already too late.” The sheer force of the crash left the road littered with debris, including fragments of the shattered scooter and personal belongings of the victims. Passersby scrambled to assist, but the scale of the tragedy overwhelmed initial efforts until emergency services arrived.
Police reports indicate that the Mercedes, identified by its Chandigarh plates, was moving recklessly, a detail corroborated by multiple witnesses. “This wasn’t just an accident—it was negligence of the highest order,” SSP Singh told reporters at a press briefing late Wednesday night. “The driver abandoned the vehicle’s occupants to their fate and fled, which only compounds the crime.” Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation, alerting nearby police stations and setting up checkpoints across Dehradun and surrounding areas to apprehend the suspect. CCTV cameras along Rajpur Road and Mussoorie Road are being scrutinized for clues, with early footage showing a silver blur speeding past moments after the collision.
The victims, whose identities are yet to be fully confirmed, included daily-wage laborers who were reportedly walking home after a long day’s work. Two of the deceased have been tentatively identified as local residents, while the others may have been migrant workers, a common presence in Dehradun’s labor force. The injured scooter riders, a man and a woman, were returning from an evening outing when they were caught in the Mercedes’ deadly path. Hospital staff at Uttaranchal Hospital described their condition as “touch-and-go,” with one undergoing emergency surgery for internal bleeding and the other battling a fractured skull.
Dehradun, a city known for its serene landscapes and growing urban sprawl, is no stranger to traffic accidents, but this incident has struck a nerve due to its brutality and the driver’s callous escape. Residents gathered near the site on Thursday morning, lighting candles and demanding stricter enforcement of traffic laws. “This road has become a death trap,” said Priya Sharma, a local teacher who joined the impromptu vigil. “People drive like they own the place, and now four families are destroyed. Where’s the accountability?” Her sentiments echo a broader frustration with reckless driving, a persistent issue in Uttarakhand’s capital.
The police response has been swift but faces challenges. With the driver still at large, speculation is rife about their identity and motives. Some locals suggest the culprit could be a wealthy outsider, given the Chandigarh registration and the high-end vehicle involved—an assumption fueled by past incidents where affluent drivers evaded justice. SSP Singh, however, cautioned against jumping to conclusions. “We’re following every lead,” he assured. “The car’s registration gives us a starting point, and we’re coordinating with Chandigarh authorities to trace its owner. No one escapes the law on my watch.”
As news of the accident spread, it ignited a firestorm on social media, with posts on X reflecting outrage and sorrow. Users condemned the driver’s cowardice, with one writing, “Four lives snuffed out, and the monster behind the wheel runs? This is why we need harsher penalties.” Others shared grainy videos purportedly showing the aftermath, though police have yet to authenticate them. The hashtag #DehradunHitAndRun trended briefly, amplifying calls for justice and highlighting the growing menace of speeding vehicles in urban India.
This isn’t the first time a luxury car has been linked to a deadly crash in India, raising questions about privilege and accountability. Just weeks ago, a speeding SUV in Moradabad claimed the life of an NHAI worker, with the driver—a doctor—facing charges but little immediate consequence. In Dehradun, the pattern feels all too familiar, and it’s stoking public anger. “If you’ve got money, you think you can get away with murder,” said Anil Bisht, a taxi driver who witnessed the police cordoning off the scene. “But this time, people won’t let it slide.”
The investigation is now a race against time. Forensic teams have collected evidence from the site, including tire marks and fragments of the Mercedes’ front bumper, which may have been damaged in the collision. Eyewitness descriptions of the driver—a vague figure in dark clothing—are being cross-checked with camera footage. Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examinations, a grim formality before they can be released to grieving families.
For Dehradun’s residents, the incident is a stark reminder of the fragility of life on their roads. Rajpur Road, a vital artery lined with temples, shops, and homes, has long been a hotspot for speeding, exacerbated by its mix of tourist traffic and local commuters. Recent efforts to install speed bumps and increase patrols have met with limited success, and Wednesday’s tragedy underscores the need for more drastic measures. “We’ve been asking for better safety for years,” said Councillor Meena Rawat, who represents the area. “This can’t be another statistic—it has to be a turning point.”
As the city mourns, the focus remains on the hunt for the driver. Police have vowed to leave no stone unturned, but the longer the suspect remains free, the greater the risk of public trust eroding. For the families of the four victims, justice feels distant amidst their loss. The injured cling to life in hospital beds, their fates uncertain. And on Rajpur Road, the skid marks and shattered glass serve as a haunting testament to a night when a speeding Mercedes turned a routine evening into a nightmare.
In the days ahead, Dehradun will grapple with the fallout—grieving its dead, tending to its wounded, and demanding answers. The silver Mercedes, once a symbol of luxury, is now a specter of death, and its driver, wherever they are, cannot outrun the reckoning that awaits. For now, the city holds its breath, hoping the law will deliver what the road could not: closure.
