Noida: An auto-rickshaw carrying six persons crashed into a truck parked by the roadside near Spectrum Mall in Sector 75 early on Thursday, killing a 45-year-old woman and leaving five others — including a six-month-old infant — injured. Police suspect the auto driver may have dozed off before the impact.Police identified the deceased as Yashmin (45), a resident of Barola. The injured include her sister Ranavi (23), Derayaj (32), Najera (25), and six-month-old Syed — Yashmin’s grandson. All four are natives of Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh and currently live in Salarpur, Noida. The auto driver, Manoj (20), is from Etah and lives in Sarfabad.Police said the family had travelled to their hometown in Pilibhit and were returning to Noida. After getting off a bus in Sector 62, they boarded the three-wheeler to head to a relative’s house in Barola.The accident took place around 4am when the auto was moving towards Barola. Near Spectrum Mall, it rammed into a stationary truck parked along the roadside. The collision mangled the front portion of the vehicle, trapping all six occupants and leaving them critically injured.A Dial-112 alert from a passerby brought a team from Sector 113 police station to the spot. “When we reached, the auto was badly damaged and the passengers were grievously injured,” said Pramod Kumar, SHO of Sector 113 police station.All the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared Yashmin dead. The others were later referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi for specialised treatment.Preliminary findings showed the truck driver had parked his vehicle on the roadside and stepped away to relieve himself. “The truck was stationary. We have seized it and detained the driver for questioning,” Kumar said.Police said the possibility that the auto driver fell asleep at the wheel is being examined. “Statements of the injured will be recorded once their condition stabilises. Yashmin’s body has been sent for an autopsy, and an FIR will be registered after a complaint from her family,” an officer said.
