Couple dies in Cilento, van driver tests positive for drugs and now faces criminal prosecution

A violent impact, followed by an out-of-control car crash and a flight down a cliff overlooking the sea. This is the tragic scenario of the accident that occurred late yesterday evening on a coastal road in the Montecorice area, in the Salerno province, where two young engaged couples lost their lives.

The victims are Michele Pirozzi, 29, and Maria Magliocco, 24. The two were traveling in a Volkswagen Polo when, for reasons still under investigation, the car collided with a Citroën Jumper van. After the impact, the vehicle broke through the guardrail and plunged approximately 200 meters down a slope onto the rocks below.

The two young men were thrown from the vehicle during the fall. There was nothing that could be done for them.

The van driver tested positive for drugs

The driver of the van, a 42-year-old pastry chef, suffered minor injuries in the collision. He underwent routine checks and tested positive for drugs, but it was confirmed that he had not consumed alcohol.

His position is now being examined by investigators.

Investigators are trying to reconstruct the exact dynamics of the crash to understand whether the man's psychophysical state may have played a role in the accident.

Legal considerations: what the driver risks

From a judicial perspective, the affair could open up significant criminal scenarios.

If a causal link is found between drug use and the accident, the driver could be charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, as provided for by Article 589-bis of the Criminal Code.

The law establishes particularly severe penalties when the driver involved in a fatal accident is under the influence of drugs. In these cases, the penalty can be up to 12 years in prison, in addition to the revocation of the driver's license.

However, a positive test result alone is not enough: investigators will have to demonstrate that the impairment actually affected the driver's driving behavior, contributing to the crash.

Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that unrepeatable technical tests, kinematic assessments and further toxicological analyses may be ordered.

The couple's journey before the tragedy

According to initial investigations, Michele Pirozzi and Maria Magliocco, both residents of Capaccio Scalo, went to the local medical center shortly before the accident.

Here, for reasons still unclear, an argument broke out with the doctor on duty, who requested the intervention of the Carabinieri. The two young men, however, fled in their car before the officers arrived.

The couple had previously been in Agnone Cilento, a hamlet of Montecorice. They were returning to Capaccio-Paestum, but for reasons still unclear, they turned around and headed back toward Agnone. Among the theories being explored is that the two were trying to recover something they had forgotten.

The flight into the cliff and the rescue

After the impact with the van, the car apparently lost control, crashing into the barrier and plunging into the ravine. Rescue operations proved particularly complex due to the darkness and the rugged nature of the rocky ridge.

The firefighters, the Naples diving unit, the SAF (Alpine Fluvial Speleo) teams, and a crane from the Salerno command responded to the scene. The completely destroyed vehicle was located near the shoreline by a Coast Guard patrol boat, engaged in a search by sea.

Community in shock

The tragedy has deeply affected the communities of Capaccio Paestum, Montecorice and Pisciotta, where the two young men were well known.

Michele Pirozzi worked on his family's farm, transporting bales of hay for local livestock. Maria Magliocco, originally from Pisciotta, had been working until a few days ago at a bar in Capaccio.

The investigation has been entrusted to the Carabinieri of the Agropoli company, who are reconstructing every phase of the accident.

Investigators are examining the dynamics of the collision, the speed of the vehicles, road conditions, and the possible influence of drugs on the van driver's driving.

Only after these investigations have been completed will it be possible to establish any criminal liability for the tragedy that ended the lives of the two young engaged couples.