Overtaking car hits group with tragic consequences

Eight riders, all believed to be amateurs, have been killed in a head-on crash with a speeding car in southern Italy.

The accident happened on a two-lane road near Lamezia Terme, located in the ‘toe’ of Italy. The car was trying to pass another when he hit the group of riders. Seven riders are thought to have died at the scene, with one passing away afterwards.

The driver was arrested and has been taken into custody. The Moroccan national suffered slight injuries in the accident. According to AP, police said that he had been smoking marijuana.

Gianluca Gioia, a spokesman for ANAS, the agency that runs Italy’s state roads and highways, said that four other people were injured in the tragic incident. This was confirmed by police, who said that driving conditions were good at the time.

The riders are thought to be part of a group linked to a local gym in Lamezia Terme.