Mohan was riding home on a bike.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: An Indian American filmmaker who was well known for taking an active role in the local Philadelphia community fatally collided with a motorist last Monday night.
Jay Mohan, 26,was biking home at about 12:05 a.m. on Ridge Avenue, crossing over to Girard, when a Buick Roadmaster headed westbound on Girard struck him, stated police, as reported by Philly.com.
Mohan was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital after suffering multiple fractures and head trauma, and passed away at 2:46 a.m. NBC 10 reported it did not appear that Mohan had been wearing a helmet.
The driver of the car that struck Mohan was also treated at the hospital, albeit only for minor neck pain. Police stated it was unclear whether charges would be filed against the driver, whose name was not disclosed.
Mohan worked at PhillyCAM, the city’s public-access channel as well as a musician, screenwriter, activist, and youth advocate, according to WHYY News. On top of his seemingly packed schedule, he also found time to volunteer at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival and the BlackStar Film Festival, which was founded by his girlfriend, Maori Karmael Holmes.
“He was very intellectually curious, and really serious about social justice,” Holmes told WHYY News. “He was really interested in comedy and music and film. He was involving himself in all of those things in different ways. He had a lot of people who loved him because he was so gracious and giving to them.”
Hours before the collision, Mohan and Holmes had been sitting together in a Society Hill theatre watching an independent film, “While We’re Young,” reported NBC 10. Mohan had ridden his bike to the theatre and Holmes didn’t ride, so they parted ways after the feature ended with Holmes grabbing a cab while Mohan biked off toward his Brewerytown home, shortly after which the tragic accident happened.
A transplant from Chicago, Ill., Mohan came to Philadelphia to attend Temple University, where he earned a degree in Film and Media Arts. Mohan’s mother and sister currently reside in India.
“He was one of the most culturally literate students I’ve ever had,” Temple assistant professor Rea Tajiri remarked to WHYY News. “Very earnest, very warm and he had the ability to make people feel really comfortable, and then he could ask the really tough questions.”
Tajiri told the Philadelphia-based news outlet that Mohan got over adversity at many life stages, yet he shirked the notion of sanctimony.
“The years he was in the U.S. were rough. He grew up in some very rough neighborhoods,” said Tajiri, who became a friend, confidante, and mentor to Mohan after he graduated. “For 26 years, he lived the life of someone who was 45. But he overcame it.”
“He was just a sweet, kind person. He took care of a lot of people,” Holmes told Philly.com. “It’s an incredible loss, especially someone so young,” she lamented.