An 18-year-old football prospect and his 15-year-old girlfriend have died in a horrific crash involving three cars and a bus.
A Volkswagen Passat driven by young Gianvito Novielli, while attempting to overtake, collided with a vehicle coming from the opposite direction, initial reports suggest.
It then hit another car before crashing into a bus, which was unable to avoid the pile-up, at around 8:30pm yesterday (19 Jan).
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The Passat was completely crushed and overturned on the straight stretch of road between Acquaviva delle Fonti and Adelfia, on the outskirts of Bari, Italy.
Gianvito and Denise Buffoni were both killed in the collision.
A 19-year-old friend travelling with them was seriously injured, rushed to a hospital in Acquaviva delle Fonti in critical condition, and underwent surgery.
He remains in a life-threatening condition, as reported by Need To Know.
The bus driver was also injured. There were a few passengers on board at the time, but it is understood that none suffered serious harm.
Gianvito was well known locally as a defender for Football Acquaviva, competing in Apulia’s Terza Categoria league, the first step of Italy’s football system.
He had been named in the squad for Sunday’s (18 Jan) match against Liberty Bari but did not play.
His club said it “shares in the profound grief of the Novielli family over the loss of our dear Gianvito. You will always be part of our family. Goodbye, Gianvì”.
Mayor Marco Lenoci wrote: “Acquaviva mourns two young people who were the future, whose dreams and lives had only just begun.
“We pray for the other young person involved, fighting for his life, as we all stand in disbelief at a grief that shakes us to the core.”
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