New Delhi, Apr 6 (Indian Express) : A 32-year-old IT professional was killed after he was hit by a speeding Mercedes in north Delhi’s Civil Lines area on Monday evening. Police said the driver of the car, who is a minor, was apprehended later from the area.

The victim, Sidharth Sharma, was walking home from a restaurant when the incident occurred.

Sudhir Sangal, an eyewitness, said, “At around 8.45 pm yesterday, at the Sham Nath Marg junction in Civil Lines, a speeding Silver Mercedes hit a man who was crossing the road at the zebra crossing.”

He added, “The vehicle – whose speed must have been between 80 and 100 km per hr – hit him with such force that he flew about 20 feet in the air before falling. The car too was damaged in the accident – the air bags popped out, the tyre on the right side burst, and the right side panel was dented.”

According to the accounts of bystanders, as many as six to eight teenagers were in the vehicle, all of who fled the spot. A police officer said, “Bystanders took Sharma to Sant Parmanand Hospital where he died of his injuries.”

Siddarth Sharma

Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma told The Indian Express, “We apprehended the minor who was behind the wheel from the area. He said he was going to play basketball with his friends when the accident took place.” Police said they are not ruling out the possibility that the minors had consumed alcohol.

Sources said the minor told police that they had picked up Sidharth, who was lying in a pool of blood, and helped bystanders put him in the car. But when they saw people getting angry at them, they fled, added the sources.

Police may also take action against the father for giving the vehicle to a minor to drive, said a source.

Sharma was a student at Stratford University’s Lajpat Nagar branch, where he also worked in the marketing department as a business consultant. He lived in Civil Lines with his sister and brother-in-law, who were in Mumbai at the time of the accident. They flew back to Delhi Monday night. His parents, who live in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, rushed to Delhi.

“Sidharth was a happy-go-lucky guy.” said his brother in law, Yogesh Mittal, adding, “We are in complete shock… We have lost someone dear to us… It is terrible.”