Latest news with #PinarellaDiCervia
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Bulldozer driver who reversed over a grandmother crushing her to death as she collected shells on an Italian beach was high on cocaine, drug tests reveal
The man who bulldozed a grandmother collecting shells on a beach was allegedly on cocaine after failing routine tests when he was arrested. The bulldozer driver, Lerry Gnoli, 54, said he was 'doing works on the beach' but has been charged with manslaughter and labour violations. Elisa Spadvecchia, 66, was instantly crushed to death when Gnoli allegedly ran her over with the 15 tonne machine, leaving her body so horrifically mangled that 'even the lifeguard who witnessed the scene fell ill and ended up in hospital'. Gnoli was part of the team tasked with flattening the Pinarella di Cervia beach area, near Bologna in Italy, for redevelopment when witnesses say he recklessly swerved onto the main area of the packed shore line, The Sun reported. The allegedly coked-up driver holds a previous conviction for homicide after killing an 83-year-old man with his car while having cocaine in his system. He was given a driving ban and has not been allowed on any roads since 2023. Gnoli has been released without any pre-trial conditions. Although it was said at the time he was operating the heavy equipment without the correct licence, it has since been reported that he was still allowed to use construction vehicles so long as he avoided public roads. But onlookers have shared that the bulldozer also had no audible reversing sounds or warning lights. Gnoli was part of the team tasked with flattening the Pinarella di Cervia beach area, near Bologna in Italy , for redevelopment when witnesses say he recklessly swerved onto the main area of the packed shore line Ms Spadvecchia, a retired teacher, was on holiday with her ex-husband when he realised she hadn't returned from her walk. When he tracked her body down to the beach where she had been collecting shells and had decided to sunbathe on, Giovanni Sfregola said he entered an 'ocean of pain'. Mr Sfregola, who shares a three-month-old grandson with the victim, told local media: 'My wife went for her walk carrying only her phone. 'When it happened, she had nothing on her that could identify her. 'Not seeing her come back, I started calling her, but she didn't answer. So I used 'Find My iPhone' to locate her phone. 'Once I found it, I got someone to take me to the exact spot where, sadly, I found my wife. 'They didn't let me see her, but they told me that even the lifeguard who witnessed the scene fell ill and ended up in hospital.' Speaking about the tragic loss at such an exciting time in their lives, the retired policeman said: 'We were over the moon since my daughter's child was born. He's not even three months old yet. Gnoli was given a driving ban and has not been allowed on any roads since 2023 - he has been released without any pre-trial conditions 'Now, for us, it's just an ocean of pain. Something devastating that consumes you inside because you can't come to terms with it.' Tributes have been pouring in from loved ones and former pupils at the Quadri high school in Vicenza where she had retired from as an English teacher. A colleague and friend of many years, Donatella Lovison, said the news had left her 'breathless'. 'I couldn't believe it, hearing her name spoken! I remember all the fruitful moments of study and research spent together. I hope she gets justice!' she wrote Anna Spata, who worked with Ms Spadavecchia on a project, said: 'Very sad news. I remember Elisa with affection and esteem. 'My thoughts go back to the Poseidon project group and to our strong friendship, to the commitment and passion that united us.' Cinzia Zanesco said she was 'speechless' and knew her old colleague was 'enjoying this phase of life' with her new granddaughter. She added: 'It's crazy that she was killed in this way, it doesn't make sense. 'From one day to the next, from one moment to the next your life can change and everything can disappear. We have to realise this. 'We are preparing a letter to her husband and we will try to be close to him as much as possible as former colleagues of Elisa.' Elena Ruffato said 'We are dismayed - she spreads her arms - we are speechless in the face of a tragedy. 'She was a colleague full of vitality, she was very good with IT. 'She had retired before Covid, she would have been very useful to us when technology held up a shack that was leaking from all sides. 'We will try to be close to her husband in this terrible moment. You can't die like this, I hope he gets justice.' Another former colleague, Nico Pigato, said she was 'cheerful person' and 'well-liked by everyone'. 'She was one of the first to introduce the use of IT at school and her end-of-year sweets were legendary,' he added. Gnoli's lawyer, Vittoria Manes' said his client is 'terribly sorry' and that it is a 'huge tragedy'. He added: 'He can't understand how it could have happened and sends his condolences to the woman's family.' Since the tragedy took place on a beach, Gnoli can't be charged with road homicide despite driving a vehicle - a charge which could lead to an arrest.
The Sun
01-07-2025
- The Sun
English teacher tourist crushed to death by drugged-up bulldozer driver on Italian beach as she picked up shell
AN ENGLISH teacher has been crushed to death by a bulldozer driver who was allegedly high on cocaine. Elisa Spadavecchia, 66, was fatally run over by the crazed motorist as she picked up seashells on a popular Italian beach. 3 3 3 Suspect Lerry Gnoli, 54, has been accused of reversing the deadly vehicle straight over the holidaymaker as she bent down to pick up a shell. Elisa was crushed to death almost instantly, cops say. Witnesses say the bulldozer had no warning lights or audible reversing alerts as it ploughed into the retired teacher. Gnoli had been working on the 15-tonne tracked bulldozer after a long evening out on the dunes at the Pinarella di Cervia beach on north-eastern Italy's Adriatic Coast. He was quickly detained and taken in for questioning as police discovered he was high on cocaine at the time through routine tests. Gnoli has now been charged with manslaughter and labour violations as it emerged he had been banned from driving in 2023. Police enforced a road ban on the suspect after he was found to have killed an 83-year-old man in his car while also under the influence of cocaine. Despite the driving restrictions, he was still allowed to operate a construction vehicle as long as he avoided public roads. Gnoli was a part of the bulldozer team on the beach who was put in charge of flattening part of the area for redevelopment. But horrified witnesses said he strayed off the planned construction site and stormed through the packed beach where Elisa was spending her holiday. .
