Italy is mourning the loss of 15-year-old figure skater Matilda Ferrari, who died in a tragic traffic accident while on her way to school. The accident happened in Giustino, a town in Trentino in the Italian Alps, when she was struck by a cement truck as she crossed the road to catch her bus.
Emergency responders arrived quickly, but Matilda succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Early reports suggest the truck driver had a green light when she entered the roadway.
Matilda had been walking with two friends, headed to classes in Tione, as she did every school day. The stretch where the crash occurred is a busy regional artery and has seen previous close calls, raising concerns about student safety.
“It is a terrible tragedy that leaves us speechless. You can’t go to school in the morning and die like this,” said Giustino’s mayor, Manuel Cosi. His words echoed the grief and shock spreading through the small community.