Latest news with #CarstenSpohr
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Family of woman who was struck by Lufthansa CEO's wife is ‘destroyed' over her tragic death
The family of a woman who was killed in an alleged hit-and-run by the wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, has been 'destroyed' by her death. Gaia Costa, a 24-year-old babysitter, was walking across a pedestrian crossing in Sardinia earlier this week when she was struck, according to local outlet II Sole 24 ORE. 'At this time, we must respect the pain of a destroyed family,' said Antonello Desini, a lawyer for the Costa family, per Italian media. Desini added that his 'clients have the utmost confidence in the work of the Tempio Public Prosecutor's Office,' who will be handling the case. The New York Post reports that Costa's father is a well-known unionist for Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori – one of the largest trade union organizations in Italy. The incident occurred on Tuesday at around 1.00 p.m. Local media reported that 51-year-old Vivian Spohr was driving a BMW X5 SUV with her daughter as a passenger, when the crash occurred. Witnesses told police that they saw Costa extend her arm to signal for the driver to stop, but instead watched as the vehicle accelerated, striking her. 'Vivian Spohr, who was involved in the tragic death, expresses her dismay and deep regret over this very serious accident, which has devastated a family, the town of Tempio, and the entire community of Gallura,' a statement released Friday by Spohr's attorneys read. The statement added that Spohr places herself 'at the complete disposal of the Italian judicial authorities for the necessary investigations and, while aware that such a great personal loss cannot be repaired, will take steps to mitigate its consequences.' Emergency services at the scene attempted to revive Costa for around 20 minutes before pronouncing her dead at the scene as a result of severe head trauma. Reports suggest authorities are investigating whether Spohr was using her phone at the time of the incident. Her alcohol and drug tests were negative, according L'Unione Sarda. The Spohr family had been spending time at a home they own on the island close to the community of Porto Cervo. After the collision, the family returned to Germany. Carsten Spohr has been the CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG since May 2014. He runs the Lufthansa Group, comprising the business segments of Network Airlines, Eurowings, Logistics, and MRO. They have over 100,000 employees worldwide. An autopsy on the body of Costa will be carried out on Wednesday.
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Tragic crash pic emerges after airline CEO's wife ‘ran down babysitter, 24, as lawyer dismisses claims she fled scene
TRAGIC pictures have revealed the aftermath of the fatal crash where a CEO's wife allegedly ran over a babysitter - with her lawyers shutting down claims she fled the scene. Vivian Alexandra Spohr, 51, the wife of billionaire Lufthansa boss Carsten Spohr, is alleged to have struck Gaia Costa with her car as she was crossing the road in Sardinia. 9 9 9 Spohr is now being investigated for negligent homicide - and her lawyers have rubbished previous reports that she fled the scene following the horror crash. They said that the 51-year-old driver actually gave first aid to the dying woman after realising what had happened. The babysitter tragically passed away after Spohr's SUV struck her as she attempted to walk across a zebra crossing in the Italian seaside resort of Porto Cervo. Costa is said to have raised her arm in an attempt to warn the BMW of her presence before being hit at around 1:30pm on Tuesday. Gaia was reportedly still alive when help reached her, but had sustained serious head injuries and tragically died at the scene, La Repubblica reported. Shocking pictures taken in the aftermath show Costa's body covered by a large white sheet and lying on the ground next to a black SUV. Several other emergency response vehicles were seen parked around the harrowing scene. Reports previously claimed that Spohr, who was driving with her daughter in the car, initially didn't notice the accident. She was said to have been stopped by a passerby before fainting after she saw what had happened. But Spohr's lawyer, Angelo Merlini, said on Saturday: "Contrary to what was previously reported, Vivian Spohr stopped after the accident and provided first aid to the girl. "However, after an initial attempt at resuscitation, Vivian Spohr lost consciousness and fainted." Merlini added that Spohr struck the woman at a "very low speed" with her car, which has an automatic transmission and is very heavy. One witness at the scene reportedly said that moments after the collision, the driver opened the door of the vehicle and "immediately realised what had happened, put her hands to her face and collapsed to the ground". Spohr had been on holiday at her family's holiday home in the seaside resort - but reportedly travelled back to Munich while prosecutor Milena Aucone was registering her as a suspect. Her lawyers said on Friday: "Vivian Spohr, who was involved in the tragic death, expresses her dismay and deep regret over this very serious accident. "She has placed herself at the complete disposal of the judicial authorities for the necessary investigations and, although aware that such a great personal loss cannot be remedied, will take steps to mitigate the consequences." 9 9 9 The billionaire's wife took alcohol and drug tests following the crash, and both came back negative. CCTV is understood to have captured Costa crossing the street before noticing the SUV approaching her. She desperately attempted to stop it by waving her hand - but she was knocked to the ground moments later and banged her head. Ambulance services arrived at the scene shortly after and paramedics spent more than 20 minutes trying to revive her before she was tragically pronounced dead. The SUV was seized and will undergo technical investigations. An examination of Costa's body was conducted on Wednesday. The region's mayor Gianni Addis said: "Gaia was a young woman who was deeply involved in the city's social and cultural life. "She was passionate about our traditions and never missed the parades of the local folk group." Cops continue to investigate the circumstances of the accident. 9 9
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Lufthansa CEO's wife rams car into pedestrian in Italy killing her, says she's ‘deeply sorrowful'
Vivian Spohr , wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, is under investigation by Italian authorities after a tragic car accident on Tuesday(July 8) that claimed the life of a 24-year-old woman in the resort town of Porto Cervo, Sardinia. According to Italian media and local police reports, Spohr was driving an SUV, reported as a BMW X5, when she struck Gaia Costa at a pedestrian crosswalk. Costa, a resident of Tempio Pausania in northern Sardinia, died at the scene from severe head injuries. Witnesses say Costa raised her hand to signal her presence as she crossed, but the vehicle did not stop. Local news outlets reported that Spohr initially continued driving after the collision, unaware of what had occurred. Bystanders quickly flagged her down. Witnesses say she stopped, exited the car, saw the young woman's injuries, and fainted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ingin Tahu Tentang Diagnosis Limfoma? Dapatkan Info Selengkapnya Limfoma Baca Undo Spohr, 51, later released a statement through her Italian legal team expressing 'dismay and deep sorrow for this grave accident, which has devastated a family, the town of Tempio, and the entire community of Gallura.' She also emphasized that she is 'at the complete disposal of the Italian judicial authorities' and acknowledged that 'such a great personal loss cannot be repaired, but she will take steps to mitigate its consequences.' Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation for possible vehicular manslaughter, known under Italian law as "omicidio stradale." Authorities are currently examining surveillance footage and digital data from Spohr's phone to determine whether she was distracted at the time of the collision. Blood and alcohol tests reportedly came back negative. Live Events Spohr had been staying at her family's vacation home in Porto Cervo. She returned to Germany shortly after the incident. Her husband, Carsten Spohr, has led Lufthansa since 2014. The airline reported a $1.5 billion profit last year and employs over 100,000 people globally. Gaia's family has not commented publicly. Their lawyer, Antonello Desini, told La Repubblica, 'At this time, we must respect the grief of a broken family."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Wife of Airline CEO Fatally Strikes Pedestrian With SUV
The wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr allegedly struck and killed a babysitter in a crosswalk while on vacation in Italy. Vivian Alexandra Spohr, 51, is under investigation for vehicular homicide after reportedly hitting Gaia Costa, 24, with her BMW X5 on Tuesday, the New York Post reported, citing Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Costa was using a pedestrian crossing in the Sardinian resort town of Porto Cervo when she was hit. Vivian initially drove on, apparently unaware she had hit anyone, before being flagged down by a passerby and fainting upon discovering the accident, German newspaper Bild said. Paramedics attempted to revive Costa, who had been on her way to her babysitting job, for 20 minutes, but she died from severe head injuries at the scene. While Carsten, 58, was not in the car at the time of the accident, Vivian was reportedly driving with their daughter. The family owns a vacation home near the scene of the collision. Vivian flew back to Munich, Germany, shortly after the accident. Her attorney, Angelo Merlini, told La Repubblica that she is 'at the complete disposal of the judicial authorities for the necessary investigations.' Merlini said Vivian 'expresses her dismay and deep regret over this very serious accident.' A lawyer for the Spohrs, who have two daughters, told Bild that the family has 'expressed their deepest condolences to the victim's relatives.' Investigators are reportedly looking into whether Vivian was distracted by her phone at the time of the accident. An alcohol and drug test reportedly came back negative. Porto Cervo mayor Gianni Addis described Costa as 'hard-working and cheerful.' 'Gaia was a young woman who was deeply involved in the city's social and cultural life,' he said, according to The Telegraph. 'She was passionate about our traditions and never missed the parades of the local folk group.' Vivian is a patron of a Lufthansa charity foundation that supports children and young people. Carsten has been the chairman and CEO of Lufthansa since 2014. He earned more than €5.6 million in compensation in 2023, according to Yahoo Finance.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- News.com.au
Lufthansa CEO's wife investigated for running over babysitter
The wife of Lufthansa airline's billionaire CEO fatally ran down a babysitter while on vacation in Sardinia — then flew home to Germany while under investigation for vehicular homicide, according to reports. Vivian Alexandra Spohr, 51 — the wife of CEO Carsten Spohr — was behind the wheel of a BMW X5 on Tuesday afternoon when she struck Gaia Costa, 24, on a pedestrian crosswalk in the upscale Italian resort town of Porto Cervo, according to Corriere News. Spohr allegedly continued driving until onlookers waved her down — leaving her so shocked that she fainted, Italien News reported. Paramedics spent 20 minutes trying to revive Costa, but the babysitter died from severe head injuries, the reports said. Spohr was formally identified as being under investigation for involuntary manslaughter — but the mum of two had already flown home to Berlin, Germany, according to the reports. However, she was not legally required to remain on the Italian island, and has vowed to co-operate, her lawyer said, New York Post reported. 'Vivian Spohr, who was involved in the tragic death, expresses her dismay and deep regret over this very serious accident,' the lawyer, Angelo Merlini, told La Repubblica. 'She has placed herself at the complete disposal of the judicial authorities for the necessary investigations and, although aware that such a great personal loss cannot be remedied, will take steps to mitigate the consequences.' The CEO's wife tested negative for alcohol or drugs, according to the reports, which said investigators are analysing surveillance footage and Spohr's phone records to see if she was distracted at the time. Porto Cervo is a luxury resort area in Sardinia known for attracting high-profile visitors during the summer season. Italian prosecutors and Lufthansa did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Post. Carsten Spohr, 58, and his wife share two daughters.
