Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Venice Opens Negligent-Shipwreck Probe After Grand Canal Crash

Authorities ordered pilot toxicology tests as experts assess a possible transmission failure, with no serious injuries reported.

Overview

  • The Alilaguna passenger boat lost control late Sunday morning near the Rialto area, striking two gondolas and the Fontego dei Tedeschi.
  • Prosecutors seized the vessel and the damaged gondolas for judicial and technical inspections to determine cause and liability.
  • Nine people fell into the canal, including three Peruvian tourists and a gondolier, with rescues reported and no fatalities confirmed.
  • Alilaguna said the pilot tried to avoid collisions and was taken to hospital for breathalyzer and drug testing in line with procedure.
  • Venice’s police commander said navigation density did not drive the incident, while one working hypothesis points to a transmission malfunction still under analysis.