A teenage rugby prospect has died after his mini-car smashed into a tree on the way home from training.
Ruggero Canocchi, 15, was conscious at the scene and spoke to police and paramedics.
He died in hospital after two operations failed to stop the internal bleeding.
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He would have turned 16 in November.
The crash happened near the Arcobaleno Sports Centre in L’Aquila, Italy, shortly after 7 pm on Monday (14 Sep).
Ruggero was driving a mini-car when he lost control for reasons still being examined by traffic police.
The vehicle crossed to the other side of the road and hit the only tree on that stretch.
In Italy, 14- and 15-year-olds can legally drive restricted mini-cars capped at about 28mph; in Britain, that is not allowed until 16 and only then on an AM licence.
His father, Fabrizio, a former policeman and Fiamme Oro rugby player, reached the crash scene with officers and ambulance crews.
Medics took the teen to San Salvatore Hospital where his condition quickly deteriorated.
Surgeons operated on him on Monday night and again on Tuesday morning.
He was sedated in a critical state and died on Tuesday afternoon.
He played scrum-half and wing for junior club Rugby Experience, wearing the No. 9 shirt.
He was in the Under-16 side that won the Italian title in June 2025, beating Valsugana Padova 19-17.
The schoolboy attended the Ottavio Colecchi Secondary School and had played rugby since childhood.
His club posted pitch photos with the words: “From the first day to the last… together.
“Goodbye Ruggero, rest in peace.”
The Italian Rugby Federation said they were “close to you and embrace you and your family”.
A minute’s silence was ordered at rugby pitches across the country and before the women’s rugby Test against Japan.
Mayor Pierluigi Biondi said: “A life cut short at that age is a wound for the whole city.”
He thanked doctors and rescuers who “fought to the last to save his life”.
Traffic police are still reconstructing why Ruggero’s mini-car left the road.
Juvenile prosecutors may order a post-mortem.
A white-balloon memorial was due at Colle Sapone on Thursday, as reported by Need To Know.
Local football side L’Aquila 1927 had already played with black armbands.
The investigation into his death is ongoing.
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