Horror in Italy: Six Dead in Bus and Camper Collision
At least six people died in a horrific crash in Umbria, while Slovenia's president admitted she wasn't wearing a seatbelt in her own traffic accident.
At least six people died in a horrific crash in Umbria, while Slovenia's president admitted she wasn't wearing a seatbelt in her own traffic accident.
At least six people were killed and 34 injured in a serious traffic accident that occurred on Sunday evening in central Italy. A camper suddenly veered into oncoming traffic on State Road 79 between Terni and Rieti in the Umbria region, colliding with a tourist bus. Three cars then crashed into the wreckage as their drivers failed to stop in time.
Photos from the scene show the front of the bus completely crushed, shattered windshields, and the entrance door torn off. According to Italian media, the impact was so violent that the camper was completely destroyed. Emergency services, firefighters, and police arrived promptly, and several seriously injured people were airlifted to nearby hospitals.
Six passengers are in critical condition, while two others sustained serious injuries. Among the injured, according to Italian broadcaster RAI, is a child. The bus passengers were en route to the Marmore Falls, while those in the camper were returning from a holiday in Terni.
According to Il Post, the drivers of both vehicles died at the scene, along with four passengers-two from each vehicle. The identities of the deceased have not yet been released.
"It was a major, catastrophic emergency. We immediately activated all protocols, even before emergency teams arrived on site. I want to commend the rescuers who faced an unimaginable scene, as well as the injured and the uninjured, because these images will stay with them for a long time. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims," said Stefania Proietti, president of the Umbria region.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, and the road has been closed for evidence collection and wreckage removal. The crash occurred during what Italians call the "black weekend," the first weekend of the summer holiday season when traffic is extremely heavy. According to the Sapidata-Asaps Road Safety Observatory, at least 31 people died in traffic accidents across Italy from Friday to Sunday, including a 14-year-old girl and two 17-year-old boys.
On the same day, August 4, 2026, at 4:30 PM, Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar was involved in a traffic accident in a tunnel entrance when her vehicle struck another car and then a wall. In an interview with TV Slovenia, she admitted she was not wearing a seatbelt.
"That was my biggest mistake, and I sincerely regret it. I wasn't wearing a seatbelt, and I take full responsibility. I paid for it with a broken collarbone. I don't know what injuries I might have had if I had been belted-surely some as well-but I won't speculate. The law requires seatbelts even in the back seats. I didn't do that, and I'm truly sorry. I will fully accept all consequences of my irresponsibility. But I ask all of you, from my own experience, from my own example: buckle up even in the back seats," Pirc Musar said.
The president said she feels fine but is in pain. Surgery was not needed; her collarbone is immobilized, and rehabilitation will take four to six weeks. She will need to rest for at least 14 days.
Pirc Musar explained that the public couldn't be informed earlier because she herself didn't have complete information. After the accident at 4:30 PM, about an hour passed before rescuers could transfer her to an ambulance, and then another 45 minutes to the hospital in Izola. She informed her husband after 11 PM, and only gave credible information early the next morning after a medical check-up.
"We simply didn't have information. And incomplete information, given the office I hold, wouldn't be wise to release to the public. Also, in the interest of the investigation into this accident, we had to first speak with the relevant authorities," she said.
Due to the accident, she had to cancel her trip to the Sinjska Alka, to which she had been invited by Croatian President Zoran Milanović. "The Croatian president also called me and wished me a speedy recovery," she added.
The Slovenian Police Union warned that it's too early to assign blame and that the investigation must cover the entire work organization, including officers' rest and leave. "The investigation must, beyond the driver's immediate actions, also review the entire work organization: who planned and led the security, what instructions were given, what the driving regime was, and whether the officer was provided with adequate rest and breaks," the union stated.
