Five dead, five injured in multi-vehicle crash on Terni-Rieti highway in central Italy
A bus, a camper, and at least one car collided on the Terni-Rieti superstrada near Colli sul Velino on Sunday, leaving five people dead and five others injured.
The crash
On Sunday, 2 August 2026, a multi-vehicle collision occurred on the Terni-Rieti highway (Strada Statale 79 Ternana) near Colli sul Velino, a hamlet in the province of Rieti, Lazio, on the border with Umbria. The accident involved a bus carrying 20 passengers, a camper, and at least one car; some initial reports mentioned two cars. The crash happened on the carriageway in the direction of Rieti, close to the exit. The impact destroyed the camper. The exact time of the collision has not been released, but emergency calls were made in the early afternoon.
Casualties and vehicles
Five people lost their lives and five others sustained injuries, according to the most recent updates from the rescue services. The victims were travelling in the camper and the cars; no fatalities were reported among the bus passengers. The injured were taken to hospitals in the area. An earlier report from Il Fatto Quotidiano had cited at least four dead and an unspecified number of wounded, before the toll was confirmed at five dead and five injured by ANSA, Tgcom24, and Il Messaggero. The bus was carrying 20 people at the time of the crash.
Emergency response
The 118 medical emergency service, multiple police units, and five fire brigade teams were dispatched to the scene. The fire crews came from the provincial commands of Rieti and Terni. The highway was immediately closed in both directions to allow rescue operations and the investigation. Motorists were diverted onto alternative routes towards both Terni and Rieti. The closure caused significant traffic disruption in the area, with vehicles backed up for several kilometres.
Investigation and reconstruction
A preliminary reconstruction of the accident, reported by ANSA, indicates that the initial collision was between the camper and the bus. At least one car was then unable to avoid the two vehicles and crashed into them. It is possible that a second car was also involved. Police are still working to determine the exact sequence of events and the causes of the crash. No information has been released about the identities of the victims or the conditions of the injured. The dynamics remain under investigation, and authorities have not yet provided a definitive cause.
