Leonardo mechanic arrested after hit-and-run kills 76-year-old cyclist in Turbigo

The incident

At approximately 3:00 AM on the night of 26 July 2026, a 76-year-old man riding a bicycle was struck and fatally injured on the SS341 Gallaratese state road in Turbigo, a small municipality in the province of Milan in northern Italy. The vehicle that hit him was driven by a 35-year-old Italian man. After the collision, the driver did not stop to check on the victim or summon emergency services. He failed to render any assistance and fled the scene, leaving the elderly cyclist on the roadway. The 76-year-old died at the scene from injuries sustained in the collision. Authorities later identified the driver as a mechanic employed at Leonardo.

Investigation and manhunt

Carabinieri officers from the Legnano operative section and the Cuggiono station responded to the incident and launched an immediate investigation. Using automatic license plate reading systems and analysis of data collected along the roadway network, investigators were able to rapidly trace and identify the vehicle suspected in the hit-and-run. This technology allowed them to narrow down the search within a short timeframe. While the search for the driver was still underway, a member of the public contacted the authorities and provided a tip about his whereabouts. Acting on that information, Carabinieri officers located the 35-year-old man in the center of Turbigo, where he was in the company of his female partner.

Arrest and condition of the suspect

When officers apprehended the 35-year-old, they found him in what they described as a confused state. Subsequent testing and on-site evaluation confirmed that he was under the influence of narcotic substances and alcohol, both at the time of the collision and at the moment of arrest. His state of confusion upon apprehension was consistent with dual-substance intoxication. He was taken into police custody and placed at the disposal of the Busto Arsizio prosecutor's office. That office is located in the neighbouring province of Varese and holds jurisdiction over the Turbigo area.

Legal charges and next steps

The 35-year-old now faces criminal charges of vehicular homicide and failure to render assistance. Both are serious offences under the Italian penal code. The Busto Arsizio prosecutor's office will assess the complete case file and decide on the next procedural steps, including whether to request that the suspect remain in custody pending a formal hearing. No further details about the victim's identity or the suspect's prior record have been released to the public as of midday on 26 July.