A 52-year-old businessman and his two employees were crushed to death when a sand-laden truck overturned on a car inside an Indian Oil petrol pump in south Delhi’s Hauz Khas on Tuesday.
The car’s occupants were returning to their homes in southeast Delhi from Haryana’s Bhiwani district, police said.
The truck driver is absconding. The truck – HR 38P 4623 – had to be lifted with a crane, while a team of Delhi Fire Services had to cut open the Hyundai Accent to pull the occupants out. The incident occurred at 9.40 pm.
“The car was completely crushed. While two of the occupants died on the spot, one succumbed to his injuries at AIIMS Trauma Centre,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South District) Prem Nath.
The victims have been identified as businessman Rajiv Suri, Rupesh, 30, and 27-year-old Bablu Mehto. Rajiv lived with his family at Kalkaji F-Block, while Rupesh and Bablu were relatives and residents of Govindpuri.
“Rajiv owned a factory, manufacturing hoardings and banners in Noida. Rupesh and Bablu were employed as consultants at the factory,” another police officer added.
Rajiv had left home for a business-related visit to Bhiwani on Tuesday. He had recently signed a contract with a businessman in Bhiwani.
“Rajiv was driving the car. He had asked Rupesh and Bablu to come to his house on Tuesday morning,” the officer added. Rajiv had also informed his wife that he would return home by 10 pm.
Eyewitnesses told police that the incident occurred when the truck was taking a U-turn under IIT Delhi flyover. The driver apparently lost control while trying to avoid hitting a car parked at the turn.
An employee of Indian Oil’s Sant Service Station told police that the truck went to the petrol pump and damaged two fuel dispensers.
“It ended up collapsing on and crushing the car,” Sant Service Station employee Mukesh Kumar said in his statement to police.
On the basis of Mukesh’s statement, a case of rash driving and causing death by negligence has been filed with Safdarjung Enclave police station.
The trucker had been overpowered by the petrol pump staff, but he somehow managed to flee.
A call was made to the police control room on which two fire tenders and a crane were also sent to the spot.
“We suspect that the driver was in an inebriated condition. The footage of CCTV cameras at the petrol pump has been retrieved,” the officer said. The investigating officers have contacted the truck’s owner and received details about the driver. He is absconding.
Rajiv is survived by his wife and 18-year-old son. The bodies were handed over to their families after post-mortem on Wednesday.
Rupesh and Bablu hailed from Bihar’s Madhubani district. Rupesh lived with his wife and five-month-old son. They had got married around two years ago. Bablu was Rupesh’s brother-in-law and lived with his wife and two sons.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks