A car collided with a minibus carrying an under-15 men's volleyball team from Castelnovo Monti under the Seminary tunnel on State Road 63 in Carpineti, in the Reggio Emilia Apennines. The accident occurred shortly before 4:00 p.m., with both vehicles immediately catching fire . However, all occupants of both vehicles managed to escape from the flames and escape safely.
Two people were seriously injured: a 59-year-old woman who was driving the car and a 14-year-old boy who was in the minivan. Both were taken to the Maggiore Hospital in Parma aboard two air ambulances that took off from Bologna and Pavullo. According to initial assessments, their injuries are not life-threatening: the woman reported a fractured collarbone and kneecap, as well as various other injuries, while the boy was complaining of abdominal pain. The driver of the minivan, the team coach, and six other young athletes were taken to the hospital in Reggio Emilia for checks, but their injuries were minor.
Among the hypotheses is that the driver of the car fell asleep at the wheel, causing it to cross the lane. Several firefighter teams from the provincial command and the Castelnovo Monti detachment responded to the scene to put out the blaze inside the tunnel, which was billowing a thick black column of smoke. Six ambulances and four emergency medical vehicles responded, along with two helicopters. Carabinieri, local police, and highway police arrived in force to assess the accident and regulate traffic. Anas temporarily closed the stretch of the SS63.
(Unioneonline)
