Italy cable car: 3 arrested, investigators say brakes tampered with
Three people – identified as the owner, director and chief of operators of the company that managed the cable car – have been arrested in Italy over the cable car disaster on Sunday.
The cable car disaster saw the cable car plunge 20ft into the side of the Mottarone mountain – 14 people were killed including two children. There is one survivor, a child, who remains in hospital.
Investigators say the emergency brakes had been disabled and the three members of the operating company were aware.
Local transport officials say the brake failure meant the car was travelling at over 62mph when the cable broke.
Prosecutors are carrying out an investigation into suspected involuntary homicide and negligence.
- Three arrested over Sunday’s cable car accident
- Three identified as the owner, director and chief of operators
- Investigators say emergency breaks were disabled and the three all knew
- Newspaper alleges three didn’t believe cable would break
- 14 were killed in Sunday’s cable car fall – including two children
- One survivor – a 5-year-old remains in hospital
Brakes tampered with?
Local prosecutor Olimpia Bossi told a press conference that the brake had been tampered with in a “conscious act” and suggested the car was unsafe before the accident, AFP reports.
The prosecutor alleged a fork-like clamp had been placed over the emergency brake, which had been malfunctioning, after repair work on the car was unsuccessful, according to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
“It had been applied to avoid continuous disruptions and blockages of the cable car,” she said, adding that the suspects had believed that the cable would never break.
According to the newspaper, investigators had initially believed the clamp had been left in place by mistake.
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