Three teenage athletes tragically lost their lives when the car they were traveling in, packed with nine individuals, collided with a canal following an 18th birthday celebration. The group was heading back home after enjoying a night at a club in Lainate, Italy, in honor of their friend’s birthday when the devastating accident occurred.
Among the victims were two 17-year-old boys named Lorenzo Benin and Riccardo Provasi, as well as an 18-year-old girl, Camilla Copparoni. Despite the five-seater Audi A2 being overloaded with passengers aged between 17 and 19, the driver, a 19-year-old, reportedly lost control on a dark road bend around 5:30 am the previous day.
The vehicle crashed into a tree, flipped over, and landed in a canal in Senago. Although Camilla was rescued alive from the car, she succumbed to her injuries before reaching the hospital. Tragically, the bodies of the two 17-year-olds were found trapped inside the vehicle by fire service divers.
The remaining six occupants, hailing from Paderno Dugnano and Cusano Milanino, survived the crash with fractures and bruises. The driver, identified as Gabriele Popovici from Cormano, tested positive for alcohol with a blood alcohol level exceeding the legal limit for new drivers in Italy.
Gabriele was taken to a hospital in Milan under police supervision, in a state of shock. Authorities suspect that excessive speed may have also contributed to the fatal accident. The occupants, who are predominantly friends associated with the Cusano Calcio football club, will be interrogated once their medical conditions allow.
All three deceased victims resided in Paderno Dugnano. A relative described Camilla as a beautiful and reserved individual, highlighting the unexpected tragedy that befell her after returning from a school holiday trip.
Lorenzo, Riccardo, and Gabriele were all involved with the amateur football club Cob 91 in Cormano, with the former two also sharing studies in Finance and Marketing. Following the incident, Gabriele was arrested on suspicion of aggravated multiple vehicular manslaughter and is set to undergo further questioning.