The death of a 34-year-old man in South Delhi in a tragic hit-and-run just two days before his birthday has left his family shattered and revived concerns about reckless driving and road safety in the capital city.
The victim, Sarthak Mattoo, a Gurugram resident, was travelling to work on his motorcycle when he was struck by a speeding Mahindra Thar near the Rajokri flyover in Vasant Kunj during the early morning of June 25, said a police officer.
Police said the accident occurred at 6:30 a.m., when the SUV suddenly turned and hit Mattoo's motorcycle. The impact sent him into the road, and he was critically injured. Not stopping to help, the driver allegedly fled the scene, leaving the victim behind.
A passerby saw the accident and immediately notified the police. The Good Samaritan also found Mattoo’s mobile phone unlocked and contacted one of his office colleagues using the recent call log. Police Control Room (PCR) personnel rushed him to the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
For the Mattoos of Gurugram, life took a cruel turn on June 25.
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Their only son, who was days away from his 34th birthday, was travelling to work on his bike when a speeding Thar took a sudden turn and rammed into him in South Delhi's Vasant Kunj. Sarthak Mattoo bled on the road… https://t.co/jAVT4UQLmj pic.twitter.com/1b5GCjyddU
Police Trace Vehicle, Arrest Two Accused
Delhi Police launched an investigation based on technical surveillance and vehicle registration details after the incident.
Investigators traced the Thar involved in the accident and found that it was registered in the name of a Bengaluru-based private company. The SUV was leased to Sagar Saha (29), an employee of the company and a native of Bihar who is currently posted in Bengaluru.
Police initially arrested Saha. He was arrested and later told investigators that his friend Apurv Singh (30) was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident while he was in the passenger seat.
Based on his statement and further investigation, police also arrested Singh. They seized the Thar and filed a criminal case against the accused. The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events and applicable legal charges.
Family Left Heartbroken
Sarthak Mattoo worked with an event management company and was traveling from DLF Gurugram to Noida for official work when the accident happened.
His father, Surendra Mattoo, expressed grief over the loss of his only son.
He said the accused could have taken his son to a hospital after the collision rather than running away from it.
Surendra recalled that the family only learned about the accident when one of Sarthak's office colleagues received a call from a passerby who had accessed the unlocked phone.
By the time the family arrived at the hospital, Sarthak had already died of his injuries.
His Mother Keeps Asking Me to Bring Him Back
Surendra said in an emotional statement that they had recently purchased an expensive, high-quality helmet to ensure their son’s safety while commuting on his motorcycle.
He added that Sarthak had quietly left for work early that morning without waking up his parents.
His mother, who usually checks on him every morning before he leaves for work, only realized he had already departed when she noticed that his motorcycle was missing.
Now, overwhelmed by grief, she is still asking her husband to bring her son back—a question no parent can answer.
Growing Concern Over Hit-and-Run Cases
The incident has once again reignited the growing incidence of hit-and-run accidents in major Indian cities. Road safety experts have pointed out for years that having immediate medical assistance during the “golden hour” after a crash can save a victim’s life.
The family is still anxious to find out about the case and is seeking justice for the young professional who was killed just days before he was to celebrate his 34th birthday.
