Naples – The Naples Public Prosecutor's Office has requested the indictment of six people deemed responsible for the tragic accident of 23 June 2023 on the Naples ring road, in which the professor lost his life Maria Vittoria Prati, a CNR researcher, and the young intern Fulvio Filace.
The victims were conducting a test on aexperimental car hybrid-solar propulsion when, around 14 p.m., the vehicle caught fire and exploded. Professor Prati died on June 26, while the young intern lost his life on June 29.
According to the investigation coordinated by deputy prosecutor Manuela Persico, the fatal fire was caused by the explosion of one of the lithium batteries used to power the vehicle. The news was reported by Il Mattino and La Repubblica Napoli.
Investigators are challenging, among other things, the failure of the only safety system and the decision to place the battery behind the front seats, rather than in an isolated and protected area, as required by law.
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THEpreliminary hearing is set for the next 28st May at the New Palace of Justice in Naples. The defendants include two administrators, one of whom is a professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Salerno, involved in the management of one of the companies supporting the Life-Save project, aimed at the electrification of traditional cars through renewable energy.
The accident occurred while testing a car from the Life-Save project
Also on trial are a research fellow from the University of Salerno and three employees of the company that owns the experimental vehicle, including a coordinator, a direct collaborator and a person responsible for the technical part.
The crimes contested, to varying degrees, are manslaughter and arson in cooperation. Professor Prati's family is assisted by the lawyer Ivan Filippelli, while Fulvio Filace's family is represented by the lawyer Fabio Russo. Among the injured parties is also the University of Salerno, which has entrusted its defense to the lawyer Gaspare D'Alia.
Comments (1)
It is truly sad that such serious accidents can happen, especially in research projects that should be safe. I hope that what happened will be clarified and that responsibilities will be ascertained. Safety must be a priority.