Car strikes tree in Basiliano, killing 11-year-old girl and injuring family

Collision in Basiliano

On the afternoon of Sunday, 23 August 2026, a passenger car carrying a father and his two young daughters left the roadway and collided with a plane tree in Basiliano, a municipality situated within the province of Udine in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The fatal incident occurred at approximately 16:00 as the vehicle moved along the local road network. The driver, a 45-year-old man from Udine, was operating the automobile with his two daughters on board when the vehicle unexpectedly deviated from its course. The violent impact against the roadside tree caused critical bodily trauma to both children seated inside the cabin, while inflicting non-life-threatening injuries on the father.

Emergency response and resuscitation

Following the collision, the regional emergency dispatch hub Centrale operativa Sores Fvg coordinated a rapid multi-unit rescue operation. The dispatch centre sent four dedicated emergency vehicles to the location, including two ambulances, one rapid medical support vehicle, and an emergency rescue helicopter. Firefighters from the local brigades arrived promptly at the crash site to assist medical personnel, secure the wreckage, and facilitate the safe extraction of the vehicle occupants. Upon assessing the victims, medical crews determined that one of the young girls had suffered a traumatic cardiac arrest caused by the blunt force of the crash. First responders immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation protocols directly on the roadway to stabilize the patient.

Fatal outcome and hospitalizations

Despite prolonged resuscitation efforts conducted by paramedics on the roadside, the 11-year-old girl died of her injuries during ambulance transit to the hospital in Udine. Her younger sister, identified as 5 years old by ANSA and Il Messaggero and as 4 years old by La Stampa, also suffered cardiac arrest at the scene but was successfully stabilized by medical crews prior to emergency hospitalization. Attending medical staff at the hospital in Udine described the surviving child's condition as desperate following her admission. To ensure unhindered transit to the emergency department, a patrol car from the Polizia Stradale provided an immediate road escort for the ambulance transport. The 45-year-old father was admitted to the same facility under a yellow triage code, confirming that his physical condition remained stable.

Investigation into crash dynamics

Police officers and technical investigators remained at the crash site in Basiliano throughout the afternoon to map the road and collect physical evidence. The investigative team is working to reconstruct the precise dynamics that led the car to veer off the road and strike the plane tree. Firefighters concluded safety measures on the damaged automobile and cleared debris from the surrounding roadway. The family resides in Udine, and judicial authorities are reviewing the initial findings from the scene to determine whether vehicle malfunction, driver error, or environmental factors caused the fatal collision.