The accident occurred on Via Magellano, just meters from the family's beach house where they were spending their vacation. The incident was captured on video surveillance. The driver is being investigated for vehicular homicide.
The holiday turned into a tragedy
It was supposed to be a relaxing few days by the sea, but it turned tragic. Luciano Fuoco, 41, a resident of San Pietro Infine and a worker at the Stellantis plant in Cassino, lost his life yesterday morning in San Salvo Marina, in the province of Chieti, after being hit by a car while cycling along Via Magellano.
The man was returning from a regular bike ride when, around 8:30 a.m., he was hit by a Volkswagen Up driven by an elderly resident of the Villaggio Siv in Vasto. The impact was extremely violent: the cyclist ended up under the car, which dragged him for several meters before crashing into a lamppost.
The rescue was useless
Although Luciano Fuoco was wearing a protective helmet, his condition immediately appeared critical. When emergency services arrived, his body was still trapped under the car.
Air ambulance service from Pescara was also requested, but the vehicle was turned back during the flight: doctors had already declared the forty-one-year-old dead. The driver was unharmed and, while waiting for help, set up an umbrella to protect the injured man from the sun.
The Carabinieri, the local police and the Vasto firefighters intervened on site, while numerous residents and tourists witnessed the scene in dismay.
The pain of the family
The news devastated the victim's family. His wife arrived at the scene of the accident a few minutes later, witnessing the dramatic aftermath of the accident. The couple, along with their two children, had arrived in San Salvo Marina just two days earlier for their summer vacation, a tradition they had repeated for years.
Among the first people to arrive was a friend of the family, with whom they regularly spent summers in Abruzzo. "His wife had asked him not to bring his bike," she reportedly said, still in disbelief at what had happened.
The investigations and the decisive video
The Carabinieri are currently reconstructing the accident. A key piece of evidence could be the footage captured by a video surveillance camera installed on the very lamppost where the car crashed.
The footage covers the entire roundabout where the crash occurred and has already been acquired by investigators.
The accident occurred at the intersection of Via Marco Polo and Via Magellano, a location considered particularly dangerous and already the scene of numerous accidents. To reduce the risk of accidents, the city administration recently built a roundabout, but the intersection remains considered critical due to the long straight stretches preceding it and the high speeds often maintained by vehicles.
Car seized, investigation underway for road homicide
The vehicle involved in the accident has been seized by order of the judicial authorities. The driver will be charged with vehicular homicide.
The Vasto Public Prosecutor's Office will order an autopsy on the victim's body in the coming days. The body will be transferred to the Lanciano Hospital morgue. This is a necessary step to clarify every aspect of the tragedy and subsequently allow the body to be returned to the family for the funeral.
Traffic cannot be considered free in dangerous areas. If the roundabout isn't enough, more signs or speed bumps are needed. Better maintenance would suffice. But I hope the investigations will bring truth and comfort to the relatives as soon as possible.
It's sad to see things like this. I can't judge without knowing everything, but the description of the incident seems very serious. The authorities should determine who was responsible. The video should clarify whether there was speed or distraction, but it remains a tragedy for that family.
The news shocked me, but I remain perplexed by many unclear details. That intersection has been dangerous for years, but the full details are still unknown. The video should clear up many questions. I hope the family receives clarification and justice as soon as possible.