It was 25 minutes past midday yesterday when, at kilometre 14 of the New Eastern Road, everything turned into hell: fire on both sides of the road, some people trapped in the wreckage of the cars involved in the accident , others wandering around like ghosts with their faces streaked with blood.
"After stopping and pulling my car over to a safe spot, I headed toward the vehicles involved in the collision. The van's occupants had already managed to escape. One woman appeared to be in obvious shock and was asked to sit down," said a witness to the tragic accident that left two dead and numerous injured.
The occupants of the Fiat 500—another vehicle involved, along with an off-road vehicle—"were still inside. The passenger was first extricated through his own door. We then attempted to free the driver, but the driver's door was jammed. Despite several attempts to pry it open, it was unable to be unlocked."
The situation became increasingly dire. "The Fiat 500," the rescuer recounts, "started catching fire. The driver was then extracted through the passenger door, just before the flames rapidly spread to the entire car and the surrounding vegetation."
To remove the injured from the fire, the young man continues, "we improvised stretchers using some sheets, dragging them to a safe area. The two injured people in the Fiat 500 were then transported on a trolley to a nearby gas station, where they received first aid while awaiting the arrival of the air ambulance."
Unfortunately, all efforts were in vain for the two victims. The two occupants of the Fiat both died: Rodolfo Monaco, 78, a long-time resident of Quartu from Romandie, and Giuliano Ortu, 50, from Settimo San Pietro.