<p>Bengaluru: Kasim Saab, the 42-year-old <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/auto-driver">auto driver</a> killed in the freak metro accident near Kogilu Cross on Tuesday, was reportedly picking up extra rides to save up for his daughter’s wedding in two months. </p>.<p>Well-placed police sources detailed the Shidlaghatta native’s life. Saab lived with his relatives in Hegde Nagar. His wife and three children stay back in their home in Chikkaballapur. </p>.<p>“He had been driving autos owned by other people for several years, but had only recently purchased one on loan, maybe about 20 days ago. It is learnt he was doing this so he could earn more directly and save up for his daughter’s wedding in about two months,” a source said. </p>.<p>This is also likely why he couldn’t escape when the 18-wheel trailer was taking a turn from the airport road service road onto Kogilu Cross Road, and the girder (viaduct segment) toppled.</p>.<p>“Witnesses noted that he was trying to get out of the turn area with his vehicle, but was unable to do so in time,” said a police officer from the Yelahanka traffic police station. </p>.Man held in Bengaluru for duping vehicle owners over high security number plates.<p><strong>Police report</strong></p>.<p>Preliminary police reports reveal that the truck driver reportedly slammed the brakes while taking a turn onto Kogilu Cross Road, causing the girder to fall on one side, around 12.10 am. The girder was being transported for the Phase 2B (38.44 km, KR Pura-Airport line) construction. </p>.<p>“The concrete slab was not fixed securely to the top of the truck. When the driver applied the brakes suddenly, the ropes or chains holding the slab snapped and the slab fell to the side, crushing the auto beneath it,” said the officer. </p>.<p>The truck driver, who abandoned the vehicle and fled, was detained on Wednesday. He has been booked, along with the contractor NCC Limited, under sections 281 and 106 of the BNS. </p>.<p>Passersby who witnessed the incident rushed to the rescue of the auto driver, but to no avail. They had to wait for a large crane to arrive to lift the concrete slab off the auto by which time, a crowd of nearly 200 people gathered around the site of the accident. </p>.<p>“There were marshals at the front and back of the trailer with blinkers on to direct people off the road. The service road between Bagalur Cross and Kogilu Cross was blocked as well. The auto driver, however, was on the road and trying to turn at the same time, which is likely why he was caught beside the truck,” said a well-placed police source, who added that the alert marshals also tried to warn Saab to get out while the trailer tilted and the girder’s ropes snapped. </p>.<p><strong>Similar incident in 2023 </strong></p>.<p>A similar incident had occurred on January 10, 2023, when an under-construction metro pillar near HBR Layout collapsed on a four-member family travelling on a motorcycle, killing Tejaswini L Sulakhe and her two-and-a-half year old son, Vihan L Sulakhe. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: Kasim Saab, the 42-year-old <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/auto-driver">auto driver</a> killed in the freak metro accident near Kogilu Cross on Tuesday, was reportedly picking up extra rides to save up for his daughter’s wedding in two months. </p>.<p>Well-placed police sources detailed the Shidlaghatta native’s life. Saab lived with his relatives in Hegde Nagar. His wife and three children stay back in their home in Chikkaballapur. </p>.<p>“He had been driving autos owned by other people for several years, but had only recently purchased one on loan, maybe about 20 days ago. It is learnt he was doing this so he could earn more directly and save up for his daughter’s wedding in about two months,” a source said. </p>.<p>This is also likely why he couldn’t escape when the 18-wheel trailer was taking a turn from the airport road service road onto Kogilu Cross Road, and the girder (viaduct segment) toppled.</p>.<p>“Witnesses noted that he was trying to get out of the turn area with his vehicle, but was unable to do so in time,” said a police officer from the Yelahanka traffic police station. </p>.Man held in Bengaluru for duping vehicle owners over high security number plates.<p><strong>Police report</strong></p>.<p>Preliminary police reports reveal that the truck driver reportedly slammed the brakes while taking a turn onto Kogilu Cross Road, causing the girder to fall on one side, around 12.10 am. The girder was being transported for the Phase 2B (38.44 km, KR Pura-Airport line) construction. </p>.<p>“The concrete slab was not fixed securely to the top of the truck. When the driver applied the brakes suddenly, the ropes or chains holding the slab snapped and the slab fell to the side, crushing the auto beneath it,” said the officer. </p>.<p>The truck driver, who abandoned the vehicle and fled, was detained on Wednesday. He has been booked, along with the contractor NCC Limited, under sections 281 and 106 of the BNS. </p>.<p>Passersby who witnessed the incident rushed to the rescue of the auto driver, but to no avail. They had to wait for a large crane to arrive to lift the concrete slab off the auto by which time, a crowd of nearly 200 people gathered around the site of the accident. </p>.<p>“There were marshals at the front and back of the trailer with blinkers on to direct people off the road. The service road between Bagalur Cross and Kogilu Cross was blocked as well. The auto driver, however, was on the road and trying to turn at the same time, which is likely why he was caught beside the truck,” said a well-placed police source, who added that the alert marshals also tried to warn Saab to get out while the trailer tilted and the girder’s ropes snapped. </p>.<p><strong>Similar incident in 2023 </strong></p>.<p>A similar incident had occurred on January 10, 2023, when an under-construction metro pillar near HBR Layout collapsed on a four-member family travelling on a motorcycle, killing Tejaswini L Sulakhe and her two-and-a-half year old son, Vihan L Sulakhe. </p>