Naples, hunt for the Via Vespucci 'jackal': the purse of the 64-year-old man killed in the accident is stolen.

Audio Podcasts

Naples Hunt for the Jackal of Via Vespucci: The Purse of the 64-Year-Old Who Died in the Accident Stolen 2026 09 11

Listen to other Podcasts

Naples – A tragedy within a tragedy that leaves one speechless, unfolding in the heart of Naples. This is what happened to Umberto Sarnacchiaro, the 64-year-old who died the other evening on Via Amerigo Vespucci while pedaling his electric bicycle.

A devastating collision, which cost the man his life, now opens a two-pronged investigation: determining who is responsible for the road accident and identifying the thieves who robbed the victim at his most vulnerable.

The fatal impact and the mystery of the overtaking

According to initial reconstructions and surveys carried out on-site by the Municipal Police, the details of the accident appear to be well established but are still being examined by investigators. The tragedy occurred when the 64-year-old was preparing to turn right, precisely on the side where the motorcyclist on the scooter—with two young people aboard—was overtaking.

The impact was extremely violent and left Sarnacchiaro with no chance of escape. The two young men on the scooter were injured and are currently hospitalized at Ospedale del Mare. Officers seized the vehicles involved (including a car) and confiscated the motorcyclist's license, although he was found to be in compliance with the regulations, including wearing a helmet and registering the vehicle. The driver, who underwent standard drug tests, is now under investigation and will face charges of vehicular homicide.

His daughter's complaint: "Robbed after his death"

While public and private surveillance cameras in the area comb through every frame to clarify every moment of the dynamics, an unworthy episode has added to the family's grief.

Amid the chaos, the crush, and the commotion surrounding the first responders, someone took advantage of the situation to commit a despicable act: the victim's purse, containing cash and personal documents, was stolen. The 64-year-old's daughter reported the incident. Now, in addition to reconstructing the incident, investigators are hunting for the perpetrator.

Road safety emergency: 14 victims in 2026

The death of Umberto Sarnacchiaro dramatically refocuses the spotlight on road safety in the Campania capital. With this latest accident, the death toll on Naples' roads rises to an alarming 14 since the beginning of 2026.

Behind the cold statistics lie shattered lives and destroyed families. This becomes even more shocking when we analyze the numbers in detail: excluding two cases related to drivers suddenly becoming ill, out of the 12 road fatalities recorded so far, 8 were pedestrians, struck in the vast majority of cases while crossing at pedestrian crossings.

Topics