Bengaluru: Volvo crash that killed CEO and family sparks debate on road safety

A tragic road accident near Bengaluru on Saturday claimed the lives of six family members and sparked a debate on the effectiveness of safe vehicles on unsafe roads. The family was traveling in a Volvo SUV when a container truck overturned, crushing the vehicle and leaving no survivors.

The accident took place on National Highway 48 near Nelamangala on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

A preliminary police investigation has pieced together the events leading up to the tragic crash that killed six people. An Eicher truck loaded with aluminum pillars weighing several tonnes was on its way to Bengaluru after the driver lost control while trying to avoid a collision with another vehicle.

The truck, which was traveling at high speed, left the road, crossed the median and overturned into a Volvo car heading towards Tumakuru. The crash was devastating, causing serious damage to the Volvo and resulting in fatalities. The truck also hit a tempo before coming to a stop, but the tempo sustained only minor damage.

A nearby CCTV camera captured the terrifying moment the truck crushed the Volvo. Police are examining the footage as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.

The victims of the tragic accident were identified as Chandrayagappa Gaul (48), his wife Gaurabai (42) and their relatives Vijayalakshmi (36), John (16), Deeksha (12) and Arya (6). The family was traveling to Vijayapura when the incident occurred.

Chandram Yegapagol, CEO and managing director of IAST Software Solutions, was a well-known figure in Bengaluru’s technology industry. A resident of HSR Layout, he originally hailed from Morbagi village in Sangli district of Maharashtra.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Yegapagol had an impressive educational background; He had a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from GPT Gulbarga and subsequently obtained a Bachelor of Engineering in the same field from the prestigious National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal.

Eyewitnesses reported that truck driver Arif lost control of the vehicle while trying to escape from the car that suddenly stopped in front of him. The truck then jumped over the barrier and collided with the Volvo SUV.

The family was traveling to Vijayapura when the tragedy occurred. A police officer said the truck crashed into the car, which was severely crushed and the victims’ bodies were dismembered.

The accident sparked a fierce debate about road safety on social media; Many users emphasized that even the safest vehicles cannot prevent deaths if other drivers act carelessly.

DriveSmart, a social media account dedicated to improving road safety, shared alarming images from the scene of the crash where a Volvo SUV was crushed by a container truck, resulting in the deaths of six people.

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In response to the post, some users noted that although Volvo is known for producing safe vehicles, no car can withstand the immense force of a container truck loaded with aluminum.

Others tagged Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, urging the government to implement stricter rules and regulations to improve road safety, emphasizing the need for stronger measures to prevent such catastrophic accidents in the future.

During a recent road safety debate in Parliament, Union Minister Gadkari admitted that the number of accidents has increased significantly. “I have no hesitation in admitting that the number of accidents, let alone reducing them, has increased. This is one of the areas where our department has not achieved success,” Gadkari said during the Winter session of Parliament. he said.

He also expressed his disappointment at the lack of fear of the law despite the high number of deaths in road accidents. “Some are not wearing helmets, some are flashing red signals,” he said during Question Time, describing the “strange” situation.

The union minister underlined that improper parking of trucks on the roads contributes significantly to accidents, pointing out that many trucks do not comply with lane discipline.

Government data reveals that more than 1.78 lakh people died in road accidents in India last year, leading to an average of 470 deaths every day. Most of the victims are in the 18-34 age group.