A major collision on Italy’s A1 motorway between Arezzo and Valdarno Monday morning resulted in three fatalities and fifteen injuries. All deceased victims were occupants of an ambulance involved in the multi-vehicle crash, which also included a truck, three cars, and a caravan. Among the injured, one person is in critical condition (“red code”), four sustained serious injuries (“yellow code”), and ten received minor treatment (“green code”).
The ambulance belonged to the Misericordia di Terranuova Bracciolini charity service. The victims were identified as volunteers Gianni Trappolini, 56, Giulia Santoni, 24, and a female patient in her 70s being transported. Tuscan Governor Eugenio Giani expressed the region’s “deepest condolences” to the families and the Misericordia organization.
Emergency protocol was activated, with response teams including Pegaso 1 and Pegaso 2 air ambulances, Florence support units, Arezzo medical cars, firefighters, and police. Preliminary investigations suggest all vehicles involved were traveling in the same direction. The ambulance was reportedly struck by the trailer of an articulated lorry. A tourist coach sustained minor impact. Authorities clarified initial reports of a “truck jump” were inaccurate; the cause remains under investigation.
The crash caused severe traffic disruption, forcing the complete closure of the “Autostrada del Sole” in both directions for several hours. By mid-afternoon (approx. 3:30 PM), the southbound lanes (towards Rome) reopened on a single lane, while the northbound lanes (towards Bologna) remained closed. Traffic queues stretched up to 8 km southbound between Incisa and Valdarno, and 5 km within the closed northbound section. An additional 3 km queue formed northbound near Arezzo due to mandatory exit diversions.