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Ex-CEO of Italy highway operator convicted in bridge collapse
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- An Italian court convicted 32 individuals, including former CEO Giovanni Castellucci, for the 2018 Genoa bridge collapse that killed 43 people, with Castellucci receiving a 12-year prison sentence.
- The court found the collapse was foreseeable and preventable, citing serious maintenance failures and inadequate oversight by both Autostrade per l’Italia and transport ministry officials.
- Prosecutors argued neglect over years led to the disaster, while defendants claimed a construction defect was to blame; the trial revealed ignored warning signs dating back decades.
- Autostrade and its subsidiary settled corporate liability charges by paying €30 million and implementing new compliance measures, avoiding a corporate trial.
- A new bridge designed by Renzo Piano was opened in 2020 as a memorial to the victims, and Autostrade’s current CEO issued a public apology acknowledging the tragedy’s lasting impact.
