When a Lamborghini hurtles onto a pavement in Noida, injuring two construction workers, it grabs headlines. But behind the rev of luxury engines lies a chilling trend: speed, privilege, and recklessness converging to claim lives. How long will the rich be allowed to treat public roads like private playgrounds?
The Crash That Sparked Rage
On an ordinary Sunday evening in India, the quiet of Noida’s Sector-94 was shattered by the piercing sound of metal on concrete. A red Lamborghini Huracan, swerving out of control during a test drive, mounted a pavement and ploughed into two unsuspecting construction workers.
Behind the wheel was Deepak Kumar, a luxury car dealer. He was arrested, only to be released on bail the very next day for a bond of ₹25,000. The car? Owned by a YouTuber. The injuries? Non-fatal, thankfully. But the question echoed louder than the roar of the engine: what if they had died?
When confronted, Kumar’s chilling response was caught on video: “Koi mar gaya hai idhar?” (“Did anyone die here?”). The internet exploded in outrage. But this wasn’t a one-off. It was just the latest entry in a horrifying list of incidents where the price of privilege is paid in blood.
One of the big reasons is inadequate infrastructure like unsafe highways even after paying high taxes!
— TheSoftwareGuy (@TheSoftGuy1) March 31, 2025
Reminds me of the recent Volvo accident. What's the use of working hard and earning good money if life itself is still so uncertain and cheap in India?https://t.co/YCgooVkn6u
From Luxury to Liability: A Trail of Wreckage
Across Indian cities, high-end supercars like Lamborghinis, Porsches, Audis, and BMWs have been turning into instruments of destruction. Not because of design flaws, but due to a disturbing combination of reckless driving, alcohol abuse, and legal leniency.
Pune’s Porsche Horror
In May 2024, India, Pune witnessed the now-infamous crash involving a 17-year-old driving a Porsche Taycan at 150 km/h while intoxicated. Two IT professionals died on the spot. Outrage followed when the juvenile was initially let off with a 300-word essay on road safety. Only after public uproar was he moved to a correctional home. Blood sample swaps and attempts at a cover-up involving the teen’s parents only deepened the scandal.
Mumbai’s Midnight Tragedy
In Mumbai, Mihir Shah, son of a Shiv Sena leader, fatally hit a scooterist with his BMW. He fled the scene and evaded capture for days. Despite overwhelming evidence, his defense team attempted to use procedural loopholes to secure release—a move the Bombay High Court strongly rejected.
Nagpur’s Political Entanglement
A crash involving a Mercedes-Benz in Nagpur saw the son of Maharashtra BJP President involved in a chain-reaction accident in India. He fled, leaving behind intoxicated friends who were later assaulted by locals. Police intervention saved them, but no lasting consequences followed for the powerful family involved.
Ahmedabad’s Repeat Offender
In November 2024, a businessman, already caught once for drunk driving, caused a multi-car crash in Ahmedabad, India while behind the wheel of an Audi Q7. He was found drunk, lying beside his crashed car, cigarette in hand. The cycle repeated: arrest, bail, business as usual.
The Social Media Fuel
Luxury car brands like Lamborghini, Porsche, and BMW have leaned into their elite image online. TikTok and Instagram are flooded with aspirational content—racing through vineyards, stylish POVs, flashy stunts, and creator collabs that scream exclusivity.
But this digital prestige may be feeding a dangerous ego offline. Influencers flaunt these cars for likes. Young, impressionable fans try to mimic the thrill, often on roads not designed for high-speed performance. The result? Deaths that could have been avoided.
A System That Fails the Common Citizen
What ties these incidents together is a pattern of weak enforcement, VIP impunity, and delayed justice:
- In nearly all cases, the perpetrators got bail within days.
- Blood tests were tampered with in multiple incidents.
- Juveniles behind the wheel faced almost no consequences until public pressure intervened.
- In many cases in India, political connections dulled the edge of law.
When ordinary citizens break traffic laws, the punishment is swift. But when the wealthy crash a supercar into a human being, the system seems to whisper: “It’s just a mistake.”
Two Indias on the Road
India has one of the world’s deadliest road records. According to Chandigarh,India police data, fatalities rose 21% in 2024. And while common folks die due to poor road conditions or lack of pedestrian infrastructure, the rich are dying—and killing—because of speed addiction and unchecked bravado.
Public transport is underfunded. Road safety awareness is minimal. And yet, luxury vehicles—capable of 300+ kmph—are sold without restriction.
India celebrates its booming luxury car market. But who is accountable when that growth costs lives?
Why the Pattern Persists
- Lenient Juvenile Laws: As in the Pune Porsche case, minors often get away with symbolic punishments.
- Political Clout: Many incidents involve kin of powerful figures, shielding them from true accountability.
- Weak Legal Framework: Charges like rash driving or endangering life are bailable and carry light penalties.
- Influencer Culture: The glamorization of car stunts creates a parallel value system among the youth.
The Other Side: Can Luxury Be Responsible?
To be fair, the car isn’t to blame. Brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche actively promote safe driving, craftsmanship, and precision control. Their marketing has shifted toward tech, sustainability, and elegance.
Moreover, many affluent car owners adhere strictly to safety rules. They invest in proper training, use designated racing tracks, and value control over chaos.
Some social influencers are also using their platforms to promote responsible driving. BMW’s TikTok collaborations, for example, blend comedy with caution, adding a human touch to machine might.
But these voices are drowned by viral reels of street races and “epic drifts” on city roads. Without systemic intervention, the exceptions won’t become the rule.
So, How Many More Days?
The question isn’t rhetorical. It’s existential.
How many more Sundays before another Lamborghini mows down a life?
How many more loopholes will shield drivers with the right contacts and the wrong intent?
How many more families will lose loved ones before India recognizes that road safety isn’t a “poor people problem”—it’s a national emergency?
FAQ
1. What happened in the recent Noida Lamborghini crash?
A Lamborghini Huracan, driven by a luxury car dealer during a test drive, veered onto the pavement and injured two construction workers. The driver was arrested but released on bail a day later.
2. Are these luxury car crashes common in India?
Yes. Similar incidents involving high-end cars have occurred in cities like Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur, and Ahmedabad, often resulting in fatalities and serious injuries.
3. Why are these crashes happening more frequently?
Reckless driving, alcohol consumption, influencer culture, and lenient legal consequences are contributing factors. Political influence also plays a role in shielding culprits.
4. Are minors legally allowed to drive luxury cars in India?
No. Minors are not legally allowed to drive any motor vehicle. However, several cases have emerged where underage individuals were behind the wheel, often with little to no punishment.
5. How are social media platforms influencing this trend?
Luxury car content on TikTok and Instagram often glorifies speed, power, and stunts, influencing young viewers to imitate this behavior on public roads.
6. Do luxury car brands promote reckless driving?
Not directly. Brands like Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW promote design and performance but also encourage safe driving. However, the way their content is consumed and recreated online can lead to risky behavior.
7. What reforms are needed to tackle this issue?
Stricter laws for underage and drunk driving, faster judicial processes, removal of political interference, and mandatory high-performance driving tests for luxury car owners.
8. What’s the public sentiment around these incidents?
There is growing outrage, especially on social media, with demands for justice, accountability, and better road safety policies. Public pressure has even led to judicial reversals in some cases.
