Seventeen-year-old Benedetta Daniele dies after being struck by Intercity train in Squinzano

Railway collision at Squinzano station

On the evening of Friday, 21 August 2026, 17-year-old Benedetta Daniele died after being struck by an Intercity passenger train at the railway station in Squinzano, located in the province of Lecce within the Salento area. Daniele, who lived in the provincial capital of Lecce, had traveled to Squinzano to make an unannounced visit to surprise her boyfriend. According to reconstructions completed by investigators from the railway police (Polizia Ferroviaria), she decided to walk directly across the active rail tracks rather than descending into the pedestrian underpass to shorten her journey. As she crossed the line, an oncoming Intercity Notte 752 train, traveling in the direction of Brindisi, struck her on the tracks.

Emergency intervention and initial response

Upon sighting the pedestrian crossing the tracks, the train driver activated the emergency braking system and sounded repeated acoustic warning signals. The collision occurred before the heavy passenger train could come to a complete stop, resulting in an impact that caused fatal injuries. First responders from the 118 emergency medical service reached the station within minutes of the alert, but medical personnel could only declare Daniele dead at the scene. Patrol officers from the Carabinieri and the local municipal police arrived alongside the railway police to secure the platform area and assist with early identification procedures.

Investigation and suspension of rail services

Railway authorities suspended all passenger and freight train traffic across the affected railway line for several hours on Friday night to allow emergency responders and investigators to complete forensic measurements, record track conditions, and examine the scene. Officers from the Polizia Ferroviaria reviewed video recordings captured by the station security camera network to establish the exact sequence of movements prior to the impact. Following the detailed review of the security footage and physical evidence at the tracks, authorities officially ruled out intentional self-harm, confirming that the fatality was an accidental collision.

Factors of distraction and father's statement

Investigators noted that Daniele was likely wearing earphones while walking across the tracks, which prevented her from hearing the approaching train and the acoustic horns. Her father confirmed to reporters that she was actively speaking on her mobile phone when she was hit by the train, describing the distraction as a grave error in judgment. He also spoke about broader mobile device habits among young people, noting that constant phone use frequently causes distractions that keep teenagers from evaluating physical hazards.

When Benedetta was hit, they told me that she was talking on the mobile phone, a carelessness that cost her life, and you do not do that.

Community mourning and victim background

Daniele had recently completed her professional training to become a qualified beautician and was scheduled to celebrate her 18th birthday in December 2026. Following the incident on Friday evening, relatives, family members, and numerous friends gathered near the station tracks and platforms in Squinzano as emergency crews concluded operations. The fatal collision prompted widespread sorrow across both the local municipality of Squinzano and Daniele's hometown of Lecce.