A car struck pedestrians in Modena, Italy, causing injuries to eight people, with four in critical condition, according to local officials. Mayor Massimo Mezzetti reported that no fatalities occurred, but one victim faced the amputation of both legs after being pinned against a shop window.
The driver, a 31-year-old man from Bergamo raised in Modena, was apprehended and was being interrogated by authorities to determine if he was influenced by substances or acted intentionally, Mayor Mezzetti stated. The vehicle entered a main street, and the driver veered onto the sidewalk, hitting multiple people before colliding with the shop window.
At least eight individuals sustained injuries, four of them in severe condition, and were transported to hospitals in Modena and Bologna, some via helicopter for critical care. The driver tried to flee but was restrained by citizens and later by law enforcement for questioning.
Witnesses mentioned the driver wielded a knife, although no one was stabbed, Mayor Mezzetti noted, as investigations are ongoing to ascertain the motive behind the incident. Regardless of the cause, Mayor Mezzetti deemed the act very serious, emphasizing that if it was deliberate, the severity would escalate.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni labeled the event as “extremely serious” in a social media statement, expressing support for the victims and their families. Meloni commended the intervention of citizens and law enforcement, ensuring that the suspect would face full accountability.
Emergency services, including police and other law enforcement agencies, swiftly responded to the scene, which was secured as ambulances tended to the injured individuals on the street.
