A 17-year-old boy from Delhi crashed a rented Mahindra Thar SUV into multiple vehicles in Noida’s Sector 24 after allegedly losing control while trying to avoid being seen by his parents. The incident, which occurred on Thursday evening, left two people injured and has raised serious questions about vehicle rental norms and underage driving enforcement.

Attempt to escape leads to crash

According to police, the minor had left his home in Delhi’s Kondli area on Wednesday afternoon and travelled to Noida to meet a friend. On Thursday around 5 pm, while driving the rented Mahindra Thar along with another minor friend, he reportedly spotted his parents approaching from the opposite direction.

In a bid to avoid being identified, the teenager allegedly reversed the SUV at high speed and attempted to flee in the opposite direction. “In an attempt to not be sighted, he reversed the vehicle at high speed. While escaping, he hit two to three two-wheelers,” said S K Tomar, Station House Officer of Sector 24 police station.

The SUV eventually rammed into a road divider and came to a halt.

Two injured, later discharged

Two men — Pankaj, in his 40s, and Sumit, in his 30s — sustained injuries after being hit during the incident. Police rushed them to a nearby hospital, where they were treated and later discharged, officials said.

The crash caused temporary traffic disruption in the area, with visuals of the damaged SUV and injured two-wheelers circulating widely on social media.

How did a minor rent an SUV?

Investigators are now probing how the underage boy managed to rent the Lucknow-registered SUV. Police officials said the minor, a school dropout, allegedly booked the vehicle online for ₹4,000 using money taken from home.

Authorities have seized the vehicle and detained the boy. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rash driving and causing injuries.

Police probe continues

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Shavya Goyal said multiple aspects of the case are under investigation. “The reason behind him leaving home is part of the investigation. It is also yet to be ascertained how his family got the minor’s location,” she said.

The incident has renewed concerns over lax verification processes by vehicle rental platforms and the growing risk posed by underage drivers on busy urban roads.