Italian police have arrested a man after his car crashed into a group of cyclists in southern Italy, killing eight of them.
Seven cyclists, aged between 35 and 58, were killed in the initial impact, police said. Two were airlifted by helicopter to hospital in a critical condition and one died later, bringing the total to eight dead.
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera said driving conditions were good at the time of the crash.
The driver, who is of Moroccan origin, was arrested at the scene. It is understood he was overtaking traffic when he hit the oncoming cyclists.
It is common in Italy to see groups of amateur cyclists taking to small state roads on weekends. Lamezia Terme is near Catanzaro in Calabria, in the “toe” of boot-shaped Italy.
Police said blood tests showed the man, who was himself hospitalised for injuries, was under the influence of marijuana.
They said he was driving illegally because his licence had been withdrawn six months ago for dangerous driving.
A boy who was in the car with him was also injured.
Agencies