Italy Convicts Ex-Highway Chief over Bridge Collapse

An Italian court sentenced Giovanni Castellucci, the former head of Autostrade per l'Italia, to 12 years in prison for his role in the collapse of the Morandi bridge near Genoa in 2018.

The disaster claimed 43 lives after part of the bridge collapsed during a storm, sending dozens of cars falling from a height of about 50 m.

Fifty-seven people faced charges in the trial, and the court found 32 of them guilty. The prosecution argued that the collapse was caused by years of neglected maintenance, ignored warning signs and repairs postponed in favor of profits.

The defense, however, argued that the cause was an original design flaw in the bridge that could not have been corrected through routine maintenance. Castellucci, who is already serving a sentence for another fatal accident, will appeal the verdict.

(Reuters, mja)