Three killed, five injured in big road accident in Sicily

 Three individuals have died and seven others are injured, four of whom are in critical condition, following a collision between a van and a minivan transporting agricultural workers. The accident occurred in Carlentini, along state road 194 in the province of Syracuse. The vehicles collided head-on around 2 p.m. Two people died immediately after the impact, while a third succumbed to injuries shortly after being rescued.

The deceased were all from Adrano, in the province of Catania. They were identified as Rosario Lucchese, 18 years old; Salvatore Lanza, 54 years old; and Salvatore Pellegriti, 56 years old. All were employees of a Catania-based company, working on orange harvesting on behalf of a firm from Adrano. The workers were returning to their hometown after a day's work in Francofonte. The youngest victim had only been working for a week. The other two were married with children. Preliminary investigations suggest that the collision occurred when one of the vehicles partially crossed into the opposite lane just as the other vehicle was approaching. Fatigue leading to inattention is one of the suspected causes.

Emergency services, including firefighters, paramedics, and the Carabinieri from Augusta's company, responded to the scene. The road section was closed to traffic, and a helicopter ambulance quickly transported the most seriously injured to hospitals in Syracuse and Catania. The mayor of Adrano, Fabio Mancuso, declared a day of mourning, stating, "It is a day of great sorrow." The death toll is "speechless," wrote Elly Schlein, secretary of the Democratic Party, on social media, extending condolences to the families on behalf of the entire party.

Flags were flown at half-mast at all UIL union offices, while regional and local union secretaries, Nino Marino and Nino Lombardo, expressed readiness to support all initiatives to shed light on this tragic incident and assured union and legal support to the victims' families. "From today, this becomes a battle dedicated to the three workers who will not return home, having left early in the morning to earn a few euros," they added.