Riccardo Paoletti's Fatal Crash @ Rallye Elba 2015 (Aftermath)
- 5 months ago
A spectator was killed and another seriously injured, during the Rallye Elba Internazionale, held in the island of Elba, Italy, on Saturday, 18 April 2015.
The accident happened around 11h50, in the village of Norsi, less than 150 meters after the start of the 5th special stage, Lacona, in the southern part of the island of Elba. The Renault Clio S1600 #44 entered by team Rally Experience and driven by Alberto Spinetti-Lara Giusti went out of control along the SP30 road. The car hit a rock on the right and somersaulted on the other side, smashing into the corner of a house wall and then ending against a pine tree. According to a source the accident was due to a blown tyre.
Two men were seriously injured in the crash, being struck by the flying car while standing in a place where the spectators were not allowed to stay. One of them, Armando Valenti, 59, sustained head injuries. The other spectator Riccardo Paoletti, 48, was found by rescuers lying unconscious several meters apart. His condition was severe enough for an emercency ambulance to be called to quickly evacuate him to Portoferraio hospital. A few hours later he was transferred by helicopter to the intensive care unit of the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana in Cisanello, suburb of Pisa, where he underwent surgery two times in the following days. Sadly, Riccardo Paoletti remained in a coma until he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, 26 April 2015.
The driver Alberto Spinetti, a dentist and an experienced amateur rally driver from the island of Elba, and his co-driver and girlfriend Lara Giusti escaped injuries. Owing to the accident, the special stage was immediately stopped. Racing then resumed but the course of the following stages was modified.
Riccardo Paoletti could be confused with former F1 driver Riccardo Paletti, but they have no relation other than their names being similar.
R.I.P
The accident happened around 11h50, in the village of Norsi, less than 150 meters after the start of the 5th special stage, Lacona, in the southern part of the island of Elba. The Renault Clio S1600 #44 entered by team Rally Experience and driven by Alberto Spinetti-Lara Giusti went out of control along the SP30 road. The car hit a rock on the right and somersaulted on the other side, smashing into the corner of a house wall and then ending against a pine tree. According to a source the accident was due to a blown tyre.
Two men were seriously injured in the crash, being struck by the flying car while standing in a place where the spectators were not allowed to stay. One of them, Armando Valenti, 59, sustained head injuries. The other spectator Riccardo Paoletti, 48, was found by rescuers lying unconscious several meters apart. His condition was severe enough for an emercency ambulance to be called to quickly evacuate him to Portoferraio hospital. A few hours later he was transferred by helicopter to the intensive care unit of the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana in Cisanello, suburb of Pisa, where he underwent surgery two times in the following days. Sadly, Riccardo Paoletti remained in a coma until he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, 26 April 2015.
The driver Alberto Spinetti, a dentist and an experienced amateur rally driver from the island of Elba, and his co-driver and girlfriend Lara Giusti escaped injuries. Owing to the accident, the special stage was immediately stopped. Racing then resumed but the course of the following stages was modified.
Riccardo Paoletti could be confused with former F1 driver Riccardo Paletti, but they have no relation other than their names being similar.
R.I.P