Italian bridge that collapsed killing 43 in 2018 had not been fixed in 50 YEARS, court hears as motorway boss is jailed and dozens more convicted

An Italian court on Thursday sentenced 32 individuals, including the former chief executive of motorway operator Autostrade, for their roles in the 2018 collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, which killed 43 people. The sentencing followed a lengthy legal process that revealed systemic failures in maintenance and oversight. The Morandi Bridge, a critical link in the A10 motorway connecting France and Italy, collapsed during heavy rain on August 14, 2018. The incident led to widespread devastation, with vehicles and pedestrians falling into the river below. The court heard testimony that the bridge had not undergone essential repairs for nearly five decades, highlighting a pattern of neglect. Giovanni Castellucci, the former CEO of Autostrade, was among the most prominently convicted. He was found guilty of vehicular homicide and negligence, receiving a 12-year prison sentence. Castellucci is already serving time for his involvement in a separate 2013 accident that claimed 40 lives. His conviction underscores the gravity of his responsibilities and the consequences of failing to uphold safety standards. The courtroom was filled with family members of the deceased, many of whom expressed deep sorrow and a determination to seek justice. Michele Matti Altadonna, whose brother was among the victims, stated, “Today we can say there are those guilty of the murder of our relatives.” He emphasized that the families would continue fighting for accountability, even as they mourned their losses. Legal representatives for several defendants, including Castellucci, announced plans to appeal the verdict. Their arguments centered on the claim that the bridge’s structural failure was due to inherent design flaws rather than insufficient maintenance. Specifically, they pointed to corrosion of the bridge’s cables as a primary cause of the collapse. According to the court’s findings, between the bridge’s opening in 1967 and its collapse in 2018, no substantial maintenance was conducted on pillar number nine, which ultimately failed. Maintenance had been performed on pillars 10 and 11, with plans in place for pillar nine. This discrepancy raised questions about the prioritization of safety measures and the allocation of resources. Other defendants included high-ranking officials from Autostrade per l'Italia (ASPI), the company responsible for managing much of Italy’s motorway network, and engineers from Spea, the firm tasked with maintenance. Among them was Antonino Galata, the former head of Spea, and officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure. These individuals faced charges ranging from negligence to criminal liability for their roles in the disaster. Michele Mitelli, ASPI’s executive overseeing maintenance, received an 11-year sentence, while Paolo Berti, the company’s second-in-command, was given a five-and-a-half-year term. These penalties reflect the severity of the violations committed by those in positions of authority. Italy’s Deputy Transport Secretary, Edoardo Rixi, praised the ruling as a significant milestone in addressing past failures. He noted that the collapse was not an accident but the outcome of serious lapses in duty. Rixi emphasized that assigning responsibility was a crucial step toward restoring public trust in infrastructure management. The case has sparked broader discussions about the state of Italy’s aging infrastructure and the need for stricter enforcement of safety protocols. As the legal battle continues, the families of the victims remain resolute in their pursuit of justice, hoping that the convictions will serve as a deterrent against future negligence.