Two killed as auto crashes into truck

THE TRUCK DRIVER HAD STATIONED THE VEHICLE ON THE MAYAPURI FLYOVER AFTER IT BROKE DOWN.

NEWDELHI: Two fruit vendors were killed and an autorickshaw driver was seriously injured when their auto crashed into a stationary truck at the Mayapuri flyover in west Delhi early Saturday.

Police said the truck driver had stationed the vehicle on the road after it broke down.

The truck driver fled the accident spot, leaving his vehicle behind. A case of rash and negligent driving and culpable homicide not amounting to murder was registered at the Kirti Nagar police station.

Monika Bhardwaj, deputy commissioner of police (west), said the accident took place around 5.30 am at the Mayapuri flyover on the road heading towards Punjabi Bagh from Dhaula Kuan.

A passerby, Manish Bhatia, informed the police control room about the accident.

A police team reached and found three men trapped inside the mangled heap of the auto rickshaw. Two men were seated on the passengers’ seat.

“All three were rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital where the two passengers, identified as Chand Babu, 21, and Haider Ali,33, were declared brought dead. The auto driver, Taufiq, is undergoing treatment. His condition is stated to be serious,” said a police officer, associated with the case.

Police said the fruit vendors from south Delhi’s Sangam Vihar were going to the Azadpur market to buy fruits when the accident took place.

“Eyewitnesses told us the auto driver was speeding and rammed the truck from behind. Prime facie, it appears he could not apply brakes on time when he saw the truck,” the officer said.