After an altercation on a country road: Driver rams group of cyclists twice
Four Injured in Piedmont — 73-Year-Old Driver Under Investigation for Attempted Murder
Lanzo Torinese – In Piedmont, a driver deliberately rammed into a group of cyclists following an argument, then turned around and struck the cyclists a second time. Four people were injured, two of them seriously. The 73-year-old is a prime suspect in the attempted murder and is currently under house arrest.
The group was riding through the Lanzo valleys on Saturday morning around 9:45 a.m., a region northwest of Turin that is popular with road cyclists. Shortly before the bridge to Coassolo, a Fiat passed the six men, honking its horn and driving very close to them. One of the cyclists raised his arm to show his displeasure. What happened next has been on the minds of the Italian public ever since: The driver stopped, put the car in reverse, and accelerated into the group. He then drove away, turned around, and struck the cyclists again.
Two seriously injured; expected recovery times of 60 and 90 days
According to one of those involved, one cyclist was thrown about 30 meters, while another crashed into an iron railing. Two seriously injured men, aged 60 and 68, were airlifted by helicopter to the CTO Trauma Center in Turin. The younger man suffered a broken thigh bone, an open fracture of the lower leg, and injuries to his face and chest; doctors estimate he will need about 90 days to recover. The 68-year-old, who sustained severe shoulder and pelvic injuries, is expected to need about 60 days to recover. Two other injured people were taken to San Giovanni Bosco Hospital. The cyclists are from Settimo Torinese, San Mauro, and San Raffaele Cimena.
The driver, a retired local contractor, turned himself in to the Carabinieri shortly afterward. Rapid alcohol and drug tests came back negative; a detailed toxicology report is pending. The Ivrea Public Prosecutor’s Office ordered house arrest until a judge confirms the measure. The charge is attempted murder in multiple instances—legally a significantly more serious charge than the more common offense of negligent bodily injury in traffic.
A debate that Italy has been having for years
This incident comes at a time when the treatment of cyclists has long been a source of controversy in the country. Although the number of traffic fatalities fell to 2,868 in 2025—a 5.3 percent decrease—the number of casualties among cyclists, e-bike riders, and scooter riders bucked the trend and rose. Former national cycling coach Davide Cassani reacted with disbelief to the incident. He has been calling for a cultural shift on Italy’s roads for years and, by his own account, has been hit by a vehicle twice himself; he says that anyone who rides a bike today must train themselves in a form of self-defense.
Following the incident, additional cases were reported from the surrounding area in which cyclists were allegedly harassed. Investigations will determine whether the incident in Lanzo was a spontaneous escalation.
