Udine – Italy's Court of Cassation has upheld a driver's conviction following a cycling accident in Udine. The man stopped after the collision and initially helped the cyclist who had fallen. However, he drove on before the ambulance crew and police arrived.
What happened in the cycling accident in Udine?
The accident occurred in 2023. The car and bicycle were travelling in the same direction in the same lane. The car touched the bicycle's mirror, and the woman fell onto the road. Two passers-by called the ambulance service.
The driver left his contact details with the cyclist. He believed she had not suffered serious injuries and drove on while the two passers-by stayed with her. Police did not establish his identity until several hours later.
Why did the Court of Cassation uphold the conviction?
The decisive point was that the man left before the ambulance crew and police arrived. He left before medical professionals could assess the injured woman's condition and officers could record his identity. The appeal court had already upheld the conviction.
Article 189 of Italy's highway code requires people involved in an accident to stop and provide necessary assistance to injured people when the accident is connected to their conduct. The driver paid 3.000 Euro in compensation for pain and suffering before the trial. His insurer paid around 2.000 Euro for the physical injuries. The criminal proceedings continued.
