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On March 2, 2025, a 22-year-old student lost his life and two others were seriously injured when the car they were traveling in experienced an apparent brake failure and slammed into a concrete divider on the Nakkhas flyover in Lucknow, India. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. local time, according to police officials.
The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Arshad, a resident of Lucknow who was driving the vehicle. He was accompanied by two friends — Kaif, 22, and Abdul Ali, 23 — all of whom were students. The trio was heading from Haiderganj toward Chowk when the tragedy unfolded.
Police confirmed that the car lost control after the brakes failed, striking the median with such force that the front of the vehicle was heavily damaged. Emergency services rushed the three occupants to the King George’s Medical University (KGMU) trauma centre, where doctors pronounced Arshad dead on arrival. Kaif and Abdul Ali sustained head and chest injuries and were treated initially at the trauma centre before being transferred by their families to another hospital for ongoing care.
The victim’s family arrived at the scene shortly after the news and staged a protest, demanding accountability. In a highly unusual move, the family refused to allow a post-mortem examination and took the body away, police said. Investigators have not yet filed a formal case, stating they are awaiting a written complaint from the family.
A critical corridor response team and local police personnel inspected the accident site and collected evidence, including debris from the crash and the damaged vehicle. The car was seized and secured at the Chowk police station. Authorities have not yet determined whether the brake failure was due to a mechanical defect, lack of maintenance, or external factors.
This incident highlights the persistent dangers of road travel in India, where brake-related failures cause a significant number of accidents each year. According to the Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, brake failure contributed to nearly 1.5% of all road accident fatalities in 2023. While the percentage seems small, it translates to hundreds of preventable deaths annually. In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that brake system failures are involved in roughly 22% of crashes caused by vehicle defects, underscoring a global safety concern.
Local residents have raised concerns about the safety of the Nakkhas flyover, which has seen multiple accidents in recent years due to high speeds and inadequate lighting. Some have called for the installation of stronger crash barriers and speed enforcement measures. “This flyover is a death trap at night,” said a shopkeeper near the site, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We hear crashes every few months, and nothing changes.”
The tragic death of Mohammad Arshad has also brought attention to the emotional toll on families and the sometimes confrontational aftermath of road accidents in India. Refusing a post-mortem is not uncommon in some communities, often due to religious or cultural beliefs, but it can complicate legal proceedings and insurance claims. Legal experts say that without an autopsy, the exact cause of death may remain ambiguous, potentially affecting any future civil or criminal case.
Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward and urged the family to cooperate with the investigation. “We want to ensure justice is served, but we need the family’s support to proceed,” said SHO Chowk Nagesh Upadhyay. “The vehicle will be examined by forensic experts to determine if a mechanical failure caused the crash.”
As an exclusive perspective for this report, a leading automotive safety engineer based in Detroit, who specializes in brake systems, commented on the broader implications. “Brake failure is often the result of neglected maintenance — worn pads, leaking fluid, or air in the lines. In high-speed urban environments, any loss of braking power can be catastrophic. This tragedy underscores the need for routine vehicle inspections, especially in countries with aging vehicle fleets,” said the engineer, who requested anonymity due to corporate policy.
The accident also reignites discussions about road safety infrastructure in India, which has one of the highest road fatality rates in the world — over 150,000 deaths annually. The World Health Organization emphasizes that affordable interventions like improved lighting, guardrails, and mandatory periodic vehicle inspections can drastically reduce such deaths. Meanwhile, the families of the survivors are praying for their recovery, while Arshad’s friends and classmates mourn the loss of a promising young life.
Police have stated that a case will be registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act once a formal complaint is filed. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are expected to release a detailed report in the coming weeks.
