<p>A car ran over several people in the northern Italian city of Modena on Saturday (May 16), injuring eight people. CCTV footage showed the car being driven in high-speed into a city centre street packed with pedestrians and cyclists. Authorities later revealed that the driver was &nbsp;an Italian of Moroccan heritage and had a history of mental health problems. City prefect Fabrizia Triolo while addressing a news conference said that the driver tried to flee the scene but was chased and cornered by four passers-by. The driver then pulled a knife and injured one of them.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-killed-in-cable-car-crash-in-italy-britons-israeli-among-dead-8976704"><strong>Four killed in cable car crash in Italy; Britons, Israeli among dead</strong></a></p><h2>What we know about the driver?</h2><p>City prefect Fabrizia Triolo while addressing a news conference said that the driver tried to flee the scene but was chased and cornered by four passers-by. The driver then pulled a knife and injured one of them. The driver is an economics graduate born in 1995 was&nbsp;not known to the police. The driver was not under the influence of “psychotropic substances” but went through a spell of "psychological disturbance" in 2022, according to the statement given by the prefect. "He had been treated at a mental health centre for schizoid disorders, but we lost track of him after that initial period of observation in a care facility," she added. &nbsp;His home near Modena has been searched.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eight-killed-32-injured-as-freight-train-hits-bus-at-rail-crossing-in-bangkok-1778952168722"><strong>Eight killed, 32 injured as freight train hits bus at rail crossing in Bangkok</strong></a></p><h2>VIDEO of exact moment of the incident</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING 🚨: A man in Modena, Italy ploughed a car in to pedestrians <br><br>2 victims already deceased, 8 fighting for their lives. One woman was seen with both legs detached. <a href="https://t.co/KQURlTyGlM">pic.twitter.com/KQURlTyGlM</a></p>&mdash; The Reformed Media (@ReformedMedia_) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReformedMedia_/status/2055730936524726603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on X that the incident was “extremely serious.” "I would also like to express my thanks to the citizens who courageously intervened to detain the perpetrator, as well as to the law enforcement officers for their response," she added. The head of the Emilia-Romagna region, Michele de Pascale, told the news conference it was an "extremely serious act, but it is important to understand its nature and motive -- let us wait for more information". Modena mayor Massimo Mezzetti thanked "those citizens who showed courage and civic duty". He added: "We need to understand what's behind this act. But it was a dramatic event. "I am deeply shaken." Meloni also cancelled her trip to Cyprus and will instead visit people wounded in Modena, ANSA said.</p>

A driver with a history of mental health issues rammed a car into pedestrians in Modena, injuring eight people, four seriously. The suspect was detained by passers-by after attempting to flee and attacking one person with a knife. Authorities are investigating the motive.

A car ran over several people in the northern Italian city of Modena on Saturday (May 16), injuring eight people. CCTV footage showed the car being driven in high-speed into a city centre street packed with pedestrians and cyclists. Authorities later revealed that the driver was an Italian of Moroccan heritage and had a history of mental health problems. City prefect Fabrizia Triolo while addressing a news conference said that the driver tried to flee the scene but was chased and cornered by four passers-by. The driver then pulled a knife and injured one of them. Also Read: Four killed in cable car crash in Italy; Britons, Israeli among dead What we know about the driver? City prefect Fabrizia Triolo while addressing a news conference said that the driver tried to flee the scene but was chased and cornered by four passers-by. The driver then pulled a knife and injured one of them. The driver is an economics graduate born in 1995 was not known to the police. The driver was not under the influence of “psychotropic substances” but went through a spell of "psychological disturbance" in 2022, according to the statement given by the prefect. "He had been treated at a mental health centre for schizoid disorders, but we lost track of him after that initial period of observation in a care facility," she added. His home near Modena has been searched. Also Read: Eight killed, 32 injured as freight train hits bus at rail crossing in Bangkok VIDEO of exact moment of the incident

<p>A driver with a history of mental health issues rammed a car into pedestrians in Modena, injuring eight people, four seriously. The suspect was detained by passers-by after attempting to flee and attacking one person with a knife. Authorities are investigating the motive.</p>

Man ploughs car into crowd killing 8 in Italy, stabs 1 when stopped - What we know about the driver?

italy-modena-car-crash

Italy Modena Car Crash, News on Italy Modena Car Crash, stories on Italy Modena Car Crash, articles on Italy Modena Car Crash, Italy Modena Car Crash stories at Wion, Italy Modena Car Crash news, Italy Modena Car Crash latest news

italy modena-car-crash

Man ploughs car into crowd killing 8 in Italy, stabs 1 when stopped - What we know about the driver?