Three young athletes tragically lost their lives following a car accident where nine individuals were packed into the vehicle. The incident occurred after an 18th birthday gathering. The group had been returning from a celebratory night at a club in Lainate, Italy when the fatal crash took place.
The collision claimed the lives of two 17-year-old boys, Lorenzo Benin and Riccardo Provasi, as well as an 18-year-old girl, Camilla Copparoni. The car, a five-seater Audi A2, was overloaded with nine occupants aged between 17 and 19 before the crash happened.
Authorities reported that the 19-year-old driver lost control near a curve on a poorly lit road around 5:30 am. The Audi veered off the road, striking a tree before overturning and landing in a canal in Senago. Despite efforts to save her, Camilla succumbed to her injuries just before reaching the hospital.
Divers from the fire service discovered the bodies of the two 17-year-olds who were trapped inside the vehicle. The other six occupants, from Paderno Dugnano and Cusano Milanino, survived the accident but sustained fractures and bruises.
The driver, Gabriele Popovici, tested positive for alcohol with a blood alcohol level exceeding the legal limit for new drivers in Italy. He was hospitalized in Milan under police supervision due to shock. Authorities suspect that excessive speed also played a role in the tragic event.
The individuals in the car, who are mostly close friends associated with the Cusano Calcio amateur football club, will be interviewed once their medical condition permits. Camilla was a volleyball player for Jolly Palazzolo Milanese.
The deceased victims, Lorenzo, Riccardo, and Gabriele, were part of the Cob 91 amateur football club in Cormano. The two boys were also classmates in Finance and Marketing studies.
Gabriele has been arrested on suspicion of multiple vehicular manslaughter charges and will undergo further questioning as the investigation progresses.