Italian Driver Deliberately Rams Cyclists After Road Rage Incident

On Saturday morning near the mountain village of Lanzo Torinese in northern Italy, a driver deliberately drove his car into a group of cyclists that included both amateurs and competitive athletes. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, the incident took place on a route popular among cyclists.

Investigators found that the driver first became irritated because the group was riding too wide across the lane, making it difficult to overtake safely. When he finally managed to pass them, he honked several times — the cyclists responded with gestures, and the confrontation began to escalate.

Driver reversed and drove into the group

"We were riding slowly, around 20 kilometres an hour, chatting among ourselves. At some point a car passed us and honked. One of us raised a hand, signalling to the driver to calm down," one of the cyclists told the TV channel TGCOM24.

After overtaking the group, the driver stopped, put the car into reverse, and deliberately steered it into the cyclists. Police are now checking claims that the elderly man may have driven into the group more than once.

"The first of us he hit was thrown about 30 metres," said one of the cyclists, who managed to escape by jumping off the road.

Two victims in serious condition

At least two cyclists suffered severe injuries. A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with a fractured femur, an open fracture of his left leg, and injuries to his face and chest. Another victim, aged 68, sustained serious damage to his left shoulder and pelvis.

Several ambulance crews and a rescue helicopter responded to the scene, airlifting both severely injured cyclists to a hospital in Turin.

The driver initially fled the scene but later turned himself in to police. Investigators are looking into the case on suspicion of attempted murder. The man is currently under house arrest and is required to remain available to the judicial authorities.

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Source: novinky.cz