In Southern Italy, 39 people were killed and approximately 10 were injured as a result of a destructive bus accident. The incident took place on July 28, 2013 and was recognized by the Italian Prime Minister, Enrico Letta as a huge tragedy.
The bus jumped off a viaduct as a result of traveling at a high speech, which rendered it uncontrollable. Reports pertaining to the crash claim that the bus was traveling at a high speed and on its way towards colliding with the roadside barriers when it crashed against four or five cars.
The accident took place near Monteforte Irpino, situated east of Naples, where the bus went off the road and crashed into the barriers at the side of the road. Many of the total of 50 passengers on board were children.
The motorway operator, Autostrade per l’Italia stated that the coach was traveling at a high speed in the proximity of traffic that appeared to be moving slowly, despite the fact that this slow speed was indicated on the road.
Alessio Barbarulo, the head of the local fire brigade team further reflected that despite the average barriers constructed on viaducts and bridges being strong enough to prevent such crashes, but it appears that the impact was so overpowering that even these barriers gave in.
Accident proves to be one of the worst in Italy’s history
The bus crash is allegedly one of the country’s worst accidents, and within a span of five days, this accident is the second one to have occurred in Southern Italy. In the former bus crash, 79 people were killed as a result of the derailment of a high speed train in the Spanish pilgrimage town by the name of Santiago de Compostela.
The site of the accident was extremely shocking and tragic, with many bodies covered in white sheets, waiting to be dispatched to hospitals through ambulances, the coach was completely crushed, and there was debris covering the entire scene.
Immediately after the accident, 36 people died at the accident site, while 3 more died after having reached the hospital, as reported by the police. Furthermore, investigation for the cause of the accident is being carried out.
The Minister of Infrastructure Maurizo Lupi claimed that there were no signs of the bus having any technical problems, as it had passed its annual inspection earlier in March. An official of the prosecutor’s office claimed that the investigation would take into account the possibility of manslaughter; however, the driver too was killed in the crash. Local media mentioned the recurrence of road accidents in this area, which should not be overlooked by authorities while carrying out the investigation.