Uber India tragedy sparks concern: Passenger dies in crash after driver allegedly fell asleep

A heartbreaking incident in India is drawing global scrutiny of ride-hailing safety after a man was killed during an early-morning Uber ride to the airport in Noida, a tech hub near New Delhi.

The crash occurred at 4AM, when the car, en route to the international airport, collided with a stationary truck on a major expressway. The victim, a business traveler heading to Bengaluru, was reportedly seated in the back when the driver — suspected of falling asleep — lost control. No official cause has been confirmed by Uber or local authorities.

What’s even more troubling is how the family found out.

“I received a crash alert on his iPhone. That’s how we knew,” said the victim’s daughter, Shriti Arora. “He was still in the car when we arrived. No one helped him — not the driver, not the police.”

The driver told authorities a tyre burst led to the crash, but the family disputes this based on photographic evidence from the scene. “He just dozed off. My father died because no one cared,” she added.

The incident comes amid rising debate globally — including in Japan — about driver safety, fatigue, and the responsibility of gig-economy platforms. While Japan enforces stricter rules on taxi operators, the unregulated nature of some ride-hailing services abroad raises alarms.

In the wake of the crash, Uber’s only contact with the family came after they posted on social media. “They just asked for our registered phone number. That’s all,” Shriti said.

The case highlights a painful question facing tech-driven mobility around the world: In a system that moves millions, what happens when accountability falls asleep at the wheel?