The death of a couple who drove into Lake Como on their first date was caused by mechanical failure, cops fear.
Morgan Algeri and Tiziana Tozzo died at the beauty spot.
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Police say an error by driver Morgan is the only other plausible explanation.
Officers have ruled out criminal intent.
According to his sister, Morgan, 38, told her he’d had some technical issues with his Mercedes GLS.
And his ex-partner Monica Barbanti added: “He had told me that in the garage, he had tried several times to start the car, but it wouldn’t start.
“Then, at some point, it started.”
There may have been a problem with the automatic transmission, according to police.
Morgan had started renting the SUV just a few months before the accident, which happened around 11 pm on Saturday (6 Jan).
The police hope the forensic examination of the vehicle, as well as the autopsy on the victims, will provide definitive answers.
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According to witnesses, the car was parked near the romantic Villa Geno about three metres from the famous lake, near Milan Italy.
They saw Morgan and Tiziana chatting calmly before getting in.
They say the car then suddenly lurched forward, dislodged a granite bench, and broke through the railing around the lake.
It plunged three metres and hit the water, causing the airbags to deploy.
The emergency services were called immediately, but by the time divers reached the missing couple, they were both dead.
Their bodies were found outside the car, which was 15m deep and had a door open, at dawn (7 Jan).
Morgan was an experienced diver and pilot and was well-trained in underwater escape and water rescue.
The police say he likely tried to save himself and Tiziana, 45.
But they believe several factors, including cold temperatures and complete darkness, conspired against him.
The investigation continues.
Celebs including George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin plus Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake held their weddings at Lake Como.
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