Eight injured, four critically, as car rams into pedestrians
A car plowed into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena on Saturday, injuring eight people, four seriously, the mayor told Italian television.
Mayor Massimo Mezzetti said no one died, but four victims were in serious condition. He said a woman was pinned against a store window and had to have both her legs amputated.
Mezzetti said the driver was a 31-year-old man who was born in Bergamo and grew up in the province of Modena. The mayor said he was detained and questioned at police headquarters while authorities worked to determine whether he was acting under the influence or deliberately.
Mezzetti said the vehicle entered one of the city’s main streets and “driven onto the pavement, sending several people flying into the air” before crashing into a storefront.
At least eight people were injured, four of whom were in serious condition, according to the mayor. Victims were taken to hospitals in Modena and Bologna, including by helicopter for the most critical cases.
The driver tried to escape, but was first stopped by some citizens involved in the accident and then by the police and taken to the center for questioning.
Eyewitnesses said the man had a knife in his hand but failed to stab anyone, and the mayor said investigators were still working to determine whether the act was intentional or related to other reasons.
“Regardless of its nature, this is a very serious act,” Mezzetti said. “If this were an attack, it would be even more serious,” he said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the incident as “extremely serious” in a social media post and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families.
Meloni thanked citizens who intervened to stop the suspect and praised law enforcement, adding that he was in contact with local authorities and expected the suspect to be held fully accountable.
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