Overview
- In a closed-door meeting recounted on Rai 1, driver Salvatore Russotto apologized to the boy’s parents, who said they consider the matter closed and want to shield their son from further media attention.
- Russotto maintains he did not order the child to get off and says he was on edge from prior verbal abuse by passengers, acknowledging he stopped briefly and lit a cigarette before resuming service.
- He remains suspended without pay while his employer conducts fact-finding, and he plans to meet with his union as the company decides whether to dismiss him.
- The incident stemmed from enforcement of a new €10 ticket tied to the Milan–Cortina Olympics, which has intensified scrutiny of fare rules and child safety on regional routes.
- A separate case in Pinzolo saw a 17-year-old nearly left to walk when his valid pass failed to scan, with a fellow passenger covering the €2.50 fare as the teen’s mother vowed to file a complaint.