Latest news with #Spohr
New York Post
4 days ago
- New York Post
Family of Gaia Costa — women tragically struck by BMW driven by Lufthansa CEO's wife — is ‘destroyed,' lawyer says
The attorney for the family of 24-year-old Gaia Costa who was tragically hit by a BMW SUV driven by the wife of Lufthansa airline's billionaire CEO says they feel 'destroyed' following the babysitter's death in Sardinia. Costa, a babysitter, was using a pedestrian crosswalk in Porto Cervo — an upscale northern Italian seaside resort town — on Tuesday when she was struck down by a BMW X5 that kept going, local media reported. Police in Sardinia claim Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr's wife, 51-year-old Vivian Alexandra Spohr was behind the wheel, and continued driving until waved down by onlookers. Advertisement 5 Gaia Costa's family is in deep grief, their lawyer said. Jam Press 5 Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa Group, pictured with his wife, Vivian Spohr. Getty Images Nearly 200 paramedics and medical technicians spent 20 minutes trying to revive Costa, who died from severe head injuries, the reports said. Advertisement 'Vivian Spohr, who was involved in the tragic death, expresses her dismay and deep regret over this very serious accident,' her attorney, Angelo Merlini, told La Repubblica. Cops claim Spohr flew back to Germany soon after Tuesday's fatal incident, despite being under investigation for vehicular homicide. Spohr was not legally required to remain in Italy, and is cooperating with authorities. 5 Costa was struck by a BMW SUV while in a pedestrian crosswalk. Jam Press Advertisement 5 Flowers mark the spot where Costa was killed. Riccardo Frezza/ 'At this time, we must respect the pain of a destroyed family,' said the Costa family lawyer, Antonello Desini, according to Italian media. Costa's father is a well-known unionist for Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori, one of the largest trade union confederations in Italy. 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. Advertisement Witnesses said Costa was following a group of men in the crosswalk, and even raised her hands in a vain attempt to get Spohr's attention. 5 Costa's father is a well-known Italian trade unionist. Jam Press An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday. Local reports suggest the investigation has been delayed, as all of the documents served on Spohr have to be translated into German.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
‘Vehicle kept moving, hitting her': Lufthansa CEO's wife accused of mowing down young woman on Italian street
Italian police are investigating Vivian Spohr, the wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, after she allegedly hit and killed a 24-year-old woman while driving in Sardinia. The Independent reported that the incident happened on Tuesday around 1 pm in Porto Cervo. Spohr was driving a BMW X5 with her daughter in the car when she struck Gaia Costa, a local resident who was crossing the street at a pedestrian crossing. Witnesses told police that Costa raised her arm to signal the car to stop, but it did not slow down. 'The vehicle kept moving and hit her,' local newspaper L'Unione Sarda reported, according to The Independent. Emergency workers tried to save Costa at the scene, but she died from severe head injuries after about 20 minutes of attempts. Vivian is being investigated for suspected road homicide. Authorities are also checking whether she may have been using her mobile phone at the time of the crash. Alcohol and drug tests were negative, according to the same report. The Spohr family, who have a house near the crash site, returned to Germany shortly after the incident. Vivian Spohr's lawyer, Angelo Merlini, told German newspaper Bild: 'The exact circumstances are now being investigated. The Spohr family has expressed its deepest sympathy to the victim's family.' An autopsy on Gaia Costa's body is scheduled for Wednesday, 16 July. Carsten Spohr has been the head of Lufthansa Group since 2014. The couple has two daughters.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Very low speed: Lawyer of Lufthansa CEO's wife issues statement on Vivian Spohr mowing down 24-year-old babysitter in Italy accident
Lufthansa CEO's wife ran over a woman in Italy when she was on vacation and then flew back to Munich expressing sorrow. The lawyer of Vivian Alexandra Sphor, the wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Sphor, issued a statement on the fatal crash in which a 24-year-old babysitter was killed when Vivian was behind the wheel. The accident took place in Italy's Sardinia, where Vivian went for a vacation. Angelo Merlini, the lawyer, said there are many rubbish claims going around the mishap that Spohr was driving at a very high speed and she did not even understand that she killed a Gaia Costa, the 24-year-old woman, and when she realized, she fled the spot. The lawyers said she did not flee the scene and actually gave first aid to the 24-year-old who was crossing the road through a zebra crossing. Reports said Costa even raised her arm to stop the BMW which hit her but Sphor's lawyers said the case struck the woman at a very low speed. "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," the lawyer said, as reported by The Sun. Merlini added that Spohr struck the woman at a "very low speed" with her car, which has an automatic transmission and is very heavy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Sphor, who apparently fainted after realizing that she ran over a woman, however, travelled back to Munich, though she is under investigation as she was not legally required to remain on the island. Her lawyers said she expressed her dismay and deep regret over the 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." Sphor took an alcohol and drug test after the crash and both came back negative.
International Business Times
5 days ago
- International Business Times
Who Is Vivian Alexandra Spohr? Lufthansa CEO's Wife Fatally Runs Down Nanny While Vacationing in Sardinia Before Flying Back to Germany
The wife of the billionaire CEO of Lufthansa Airlines fatally ran down a babysitter with her car while vacationing in Sardinia. However, she then returned to Germany even as she remained under investigation for vehicular homicide, according to multiple reports. Vivian Alexandra Spohr, 51, the wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, was reportedly driving a BMW X5 on Tuesday afternoon when she hit 24-year-old Gaia Costa at a pedestrian crossing in the luxurious Italian resort of Porto Cervo, according to Corriere News. Witnesses say Spohr kept driving after hitting Costa until bystanders flagged her down — and she was also so shocked by the incident that she fainted, Italian News reported. Killed and Fled When paramedics reached the scene, Costa was still alive. They tried to revive Costa for 20 minutes, but the young babysitter succumbed to critical head injuries, according to reports. Although Spohr was officially named as a suspect in an involuntary manslaughter investigation, the mother of two had already flown back to her home in Berlin, Germany, the reports said. Her lawyer said that although she was not legally obligated to stay on the Italian island, she has vowed to fully cooperate with the investigation. "Vivian Spohr, who was involved in the tragic death, expresses her dismay and deep regret over this very serious accident," the attorney, 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 both alcohol and drugs, according to reports. Investigators are now reviewing security camera footage and examining Spohr's phone activity to determine whether she may have been distracted during the incident. Questions Raised About Exit Spohr's exit from Sardinia has sparked controversy, with one social media user claiming it "feels like an escape" — an accusation that both she and her legal team have denied, according to local news outlet Corriere. CCTV footage reportedly shows Costa walking across the street when she saw an SUV coming toward her. She tried to signal the vehicle to stop by raising her hand, but was hit, causing her to fall and hit her head. Paramedics arrived swiftly and worked for over 20 minutes in a bid to save her. As reported by L'Unione Sarda, Spohr—who was driving with her daughter at the time—initially didn't realize what had happened and was eventually stopped by a bystander. The SUV has been seized and will be subjected to technical analysis, while an autopsy on Gaia's body was carried out on Wednesday. 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."
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Tragic crash pic emerges after airline CEO's wife ‘ran down babysitter, 24, as lawyer dismisses claims she fled scene
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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 Pictures show the aftermath of a fatal crash involving a CEO's wife and a babysitter Credit: AP 9 Gaia Costa, 24, died after being struck by an SUV Credit: Jam Press 9 Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa and his wife Vivian Spohr, who allegedly ran over the babysitter Credit: Getty 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. First pic of 'superyacht slasher' accused of murdering stewardess in £9.5m vessel engine room days before 21st birthday "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 Vivian Alexandra Spohr was behind the wheel of a BMW SUV which collided with Gaia Costa Credit: Jam Press 9 The 24-year-old victim reportedly tried to stop the car before it hit her Credit: Jam Press 9 Images showed the scene of the crash Credit: AP 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 Gaia Costa was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the collision Credit: Jam Press 9 The accident scene in Porto Cervo pictured Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
