“When we reached the scene, however, we saw that we were talking about a massacre. They were all people we knew personally which made it even more painful.”
Those are the words of the Silvio Rocco, a member of Italy's White Cross and one of the first responders to the scene of a crash that claimed the lives of 8 cyclists. They had been out for a Sunday morning club ride near their home in the boot of Italy.
A motorist whose driver's license had been revoked for dangerous driving ran head-on into the group of riders. Six were dead at the scene, one died while en route to the hospital and another died at the hospital. Two other cyclists were injured. [Conflicting reports say 7 cyclists were killed.]
Identified
The amateurs cycled with a club from Lamezia Terme, noted on the map. Mayor Gianni Speranza has declared a state of mourning in his town.
Six of the dead were identified as Giovanni Cannizzaro, 58, Fortunato Bernandi and Rosario Perri, both 55, Francesco Stranges, 51, Pasquale de Luca, 35, and Domenico Palazzo. Bernandi was the owner of the gym that hosted the cycling club.
Motorists
The 21-year-old Moroccan-born motorist received minor injuries, as did his passenger, an 8-year-old nephew. News sources report that the motorist had been smoking marijuana prior to the crash, and that he has been charged on multiple counts of manslaughter.
Apparently he was trying to pass another car at high-speed when he ran into the group of cyclists.
Our condolences go out to the friends and family of the eight dead cyclists. I'm sure that cyclists everywhere are saddened by this tragedy.
Crime scene photos at Google
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