On Sunday, February 22, a serious road accident occurred near Genoa involving a crew from the Rai television program "La Volta Buona". The crew's bus, traveling from Genoa to Sanremo for the music festival, collided with the rear of another vehicle in a highway tunnel, causing it to roll over. Italian journalists were on the scene, including reporter Rosanna Cacio, who described the shock of the collision.

Rear-End Collision in Tunnel

A van carrying a television crew struck the rear of another car in a highway tunnel near Genoa, causing it to roll over.

Testimony from Rai Journalist

Another reporter, Rosanna Cacio, traveling in a separate vehicle, witnessed the accident and thought everyone in the rolled-over car was dead.

Destination: Sanremo Festival

Both vehicles were heading to Sanremo, where the prestigious Italian music festival was taking place or about to begin.

Suspicion of Excessive Speed

According to witness accounts, the driver of the television crew's van was driving too fast, which may have contributed to the accident.

On Sunday, February 22, a dangerous road accident occurred on a highway near Genoa, Italy, involving a television crew from the public broadcaster Rai. A van transporting staff for the program "La Volta Buona" struck the rear of another vehicle in a tunnel, causing it to roll over. In the second vehicle, also heading to Sanremo, was journalist Rosanna Cacio, who reported on the incident as it happened. „Quando ho visto la macchina ribaltata ho pensato fossero tutti morti” (When I saw the overturned car, I thought everyone was dead) — Italian Rai journalist and witness to the accident. Her statement was published in the local newspaper "Il Tirreno". The Sanremo Italian Song Festival is the most important and longest-running music event in Italy, held continuously since 1951. It attracts thousands of journalists, artists, and technical crews from across the country, leading to increased traffic on roads leading to the Ligurian resort. According to initial reports, the driver of the Rai crew's van was driving too aggressively. Cacio mentioned that she and her fellow passengers had asked him to slow down. The accident occurred during the peak travel period related to the festival, when many media workers travel to Sanremo to prepare coverage of the event. It is not yet clear what the exact injuries were for those in the rolled-over car, nor who its passengers were. Reports suggest it may have been a musical group also heading to the festival. This accident highlights the risks associated with heavy traffic and time pressure during major media events. Emergency services arrived at the scene, and details regarding the cause of the collision are likely being investigated by the Italian traffic police. The incident did not affect the start of the Sanremo festival, which according to schedule is proceeding as planned. However, this event serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of safe driving, especially under conditions of increased traffic volume and travel-related fatigue.

Mentioned People

  • Rosanna Cacio — Journalist for Italian broadcaster Rai, witness to the accident