Italy is mourning the loss of 15-year-old figure skater Matilda Ferrari, who died in a tragic traffic accident while on her way to school. The accident happened in Giustino, a town in Trentino in the Italian Alps, when she was struck by a cement truck as she crossed the road to catch her bus.
Emergency responders arrived quickly, but Matilda succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Early reports suggest the truck driver had a green light when she entered the roadway.
Matilda had been walking with two friends, headed to classes in Tione, as she did every school day. The stretch where the crash occurred is a busy regional artery and has seen previous close calls, raising concerns about student safety.
“It is a terrible tragedy that leaves us speechless. You can’t go to school in the morning and die like this,” said Giustino’s mayor, Manuel Cosi. His words echoed the grief and shock spreading through the small community.
Matilda was considered a rising star on the ice. A member of Sporting Ghiaccio Art Pinzolo, she trained almost daily and had recently overcome a knee injury to achieve remarkable progress. At the end of 2024, she placed third in the Italian Cup final, hinting at a promising future.
Her skating club shared a black-and-white photo, writing that they could not imagine the rink without her. Tributes soon poured in from across Italy and beyond. One mourner wrote, “What a terrible death, poor girl, may she rest in peace.” Others lamented the dangers of Italian roads.
Police have opened an investigation into the crash, examining mechanical issues and visibility. The site has long been seen as hazardous, and the tragedy has renewed debate about road safety for students.
Friends, teachers, and neighbors remember Matilda as bright, disciplined, and full of dreams. Her sudden death leaves a deep void in Italian figure skating—and in the lives of everyone who knew her.
