Families Await Verdict After 2018 Genoa Bridge Collapse
The morning of 14 August 2018 saw a seemingly ordinary family driving toward the Italian Riviera when a summer storm unleashed a fatal event: the Morandi viaduct collapsed beneath their car and a lorry. The crash killed 43 people, including Claudia Possetti, 47, and her two children.
Nearly ten years after the disaster, relatives—including Egle Possetti, Claudia’s sister and a key representative of the victims’ families committee—have turned to the court in Genoa. They hope a verdict will finally pinpoint who is responsible, after a long period of no clear accusations or public accountability.
The trial began in July 2022 and has since seen 57 defendants come to courtroom. They include former executives of toll‑road operator Autostrade per l’Italia and its parent company Atlantia, engineers from the maintenance firm Spea and former transport ministry officials. Charges range from multiple manslaughter to falsifying documents. All defendants deny wrongdoing.
Prosecutors argue that maintenance was repeatedly delayed, warning signs were ignored, and profits kept flowing. The defence, however, points to an alleged design flaw in a specific cable that failed, claiming neither maintenance nor a routine regimen could prevent such a failure because the cable was encased in concrete. Some lesser charges, such as forgery, have already fallen under Italy’s statute of limitations.
The proceedings have spanned almost four years and 284 hearings, with an average average of nine days per court session. Former deputy chief prosecutor Francesco Pinto said the length of the trial reflects deeper problems in Italy’s justice system and that a final Supreme Court hearing could add another two and a half years.
In a notable development, Autostrade per l’Italia issued its first apology for the disaster, publishing a letter from chief executive Arrigo Giana in two Italian newspapers. Giana said the company never apologized at the time of the collapse, describing the decision now as a “moral duty.” The company’s ownership and management are different today than during the 2018 incident.
The old viaduct’s remains were demolished in June 2019 with two explosions. A new viaduct, designed by Genoa-born architect Renzo Piano, opened in August 2020. Known as the Genoa San Giorgio Bridge, its sail‑like white pillars are meant to evoke the city’s maritime heritage.
Families hope that a verdict will bring them closure. Egle Possetti said that for decades lawyers had told families that no one was at fault, that the collapse was an “accident.” She said that a decision naming responsibility could “give us a sense of justice.”
