Woman killed in Savona crash; passenger films scene and laughs, then retracts amid public fury
A 22-year-old woman died after a scooter collided with a car in Ceriale overnight. A passenger posted an Instagram story mocking the victim, before issuing a remorseful retraction hours later.
The crash
Sofia Barbieri, 22 – just days shy of her 23rd birthday – was riding a scooter with a friend along the Via Aurelia in Ceriale, near Savona, when they collided with a Fiat 500 around 1 a.m. on Saturday. The car was driven by a young woman who had obtained her driving licence only three months earlier. Both scooter passengers were thrown violently to the ground. Paramedics rushed Barbieri to the Santa Corona hospital in Pietra Ligure, but she died of her injuries. Her friend, identified only as E.B., remains in critical condition at the same hospital.
The carabinieri are investigating the dynamics of the front-side collision, using witness statements and footage from municipal surveillance cameras. The driver, a newly licensed female, tested negative for alcohol and drugs, according to early reports. She had her licence immediately seized and is formally accused of road homicide and causing very serious bodily harm.
The video that shocked Italy
Shortly after the crash, around 4 a.m., a young male passenger in the car filmed a clip that was uploaded to Instagram. Laughing, he says:
The video, which also mocks the carabinieri on the scene, provoked immediate outrage. The local Croce Bianca ambulance service that responded to the crash publicly condemned it.I swear to you, this one's dead … we broke everything tonight, bro. No work for a month, brother, they got us for attempted murder.
Several hours later, the same young man posted a second video, this time apologising. He blamed alcohol for his behaviour:
He also said he was receiving violent death threats and would have to take legal steps to protect himself.I didn't realise the seriousness of things. I'm a jerk. I'm ashamed. That video does not reflect my thoughts. I was drunk. I'm sorry and I feel terrible. I'm not a monster.
- Scooter and Fiat 500 collide on Via Aurelia; Sofia Barbieri critically injured
- Passenger films a mocking clip and posts it to Instagram
- The same passenger posts an apology video, citing intoxication and remorse
Investigations and reactions
The Savona Public Prosecutor's Office, with prosecutor Maddalena Sala, has opened a case for road homicide and very serious personal injury. Investigators are examining the crash scene, witness accounts, and city surveillance footage. In addition to the mocking clip, the carabinieri have obtained a second video that shows the four occupants inside the Fiat 500 in the moments before the collision.
The driver remains the sole suspect at this stage. The region of Liguria has seen a string of fatal accidents; five people have already died on its roads in June alone. In response to this tragedy, the local health authority activated a psychological support service for the victim's family. Barbieri was the daughter of Barbara De Stefano, the municipal councillor for social services in Ceriale.
