Mango-laden truck topples on SUV in G Noida, 2 killed

The incident took place around 3.30am when the SUV was hit by the speeding truck from behind.

A mango-laden truck toppled on to a Mahindra XUV 500 SUV, killing a 40-year-old woman, her niece (14) and injuring her husband, who works as junior engineer with East Delhi Municipal Corporation, and two children aged 9 and 5 on the Yamuna Expressway in Rabupura early Friday.

A mango-laden truck toppled on to a Mahindra XUV 500 SUV, killing a 40-year-old woman, her niece (14) and injuring her husband.

The incident took place around 3.30am when the SUV was hit by the speeding truck from behind. Victim’s family members said the SUV was stationary as one of the children wanted to relieve himself. When the occupants settled back in their seats, a speeding truck hit the SUV. The truck then lost its balance toppled on to the SUV, before dragging it for 20 metres and coming to a halt.

The junior engineer’s family was travelling from Alwar, Rajasthan, to Delhi while the truck was ferrying mangoes from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, to Azadpur Mandi in Delhi.

Ashok Venkat, station house officer, Rabupura, said five persons – Bhagwan Singh (40), his wife Beena (35), daughter Tanvi (9), son Pranav (5) and niece Rekha (14) – were in the SUV.

“Bhagwan Singh was driving the SUV while his two children were seated next to him. His wife and niece were sitting in the rear seat,” he said.

Police said the mango laden truck was speeding. Prima facie, it appears that the accident occurred after the truck driver, identified only as Pappu, dozed off. “It seems the truck driver fell asleep and lost control of the vehicle. The truck rammed the stationary SUV and toppled on to it, killing the car’s two occupants in the rear seat,” a police officer said. The SUV’s rear was badly crushed and the occupants were stuck inside.

Some passersby informed the police. A team reached the spot and rushed the victims to Kailash Hospital where Beena and Rekha were declared brought dead. They had sustained critical head injuries and blood loss.

A Kailash Hospital spokesperson said the two children has a narrow escape. “They were given first-aid and discharged. Bhagwan Singh is admitted to the ICU and he is undergoing treatment for shock and blood pressure fluctuations. The driver also escaped with minor injuries,” he said.

Venkat said a case against the truck driver has been registered. “We have booked the truck driver under various sections of the IPC,” he said.