An Italian court on Thursday sentenced Giovanni Castellucci, the former chief executive of highway operator Autostrade per l'Italia, to 12 years in prison for his role in the 2018 collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa. The disaster, which occurred during a severe rainstorm, resulted in the deaths of 43 people when a 200-meter section of the highway gave way, sending vehicles plunging onto the ground below. The verdict marks the conclusion of a four-year criminal trial involving 57 defendants, including former executives, engineers, and transport ministry officials.
The court found that the collapse was a foreseeable tragedy caused by years of maintenance neglect. Prosecutors argued that management prioritized cost-saving measures over essential safety repairs, despite knowing about the deteriorating condition of the bridge. In addition to Castellucci, the court convicted 31 other defendants, with sentences ranging from nearly two years to 11 years. Many of the charges included manslaughter and criminal negligence related to the failure to properly monitor and maintain the infrastructure.
This ruling is a significant moment for the victims' families, who have spent years seeking accountability for the loss of their loved ones. While the defense maintained that the collapse was due to an original construction defect rather than maintenance failures, the court's decision underscores the legal responsibility of corporate leaders in managing public infrastructure. The case has sparked a broader national conversation in Italy about the safety of aging roads and the oversight of privatized highway networks.
As the legal process moves forward, the convicted parties are expected to appeal the sentences. Meanwhile, the bridge itself has been replaced by a new structure designed by architect Renzo Piano, which opened in 2020. The verdict serves as a stark reminder of the human and social costs of infrastructure failure and the ongoing efforts to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated.