Three prison police officers died in the Mineo accident; the third fatality occurred in the hospital.

Last Updated: August 26, 2023

Three prison police officers have died in an accident on the 385 state road between Palagonia and Mineo. Last night, the third officer passed away at the Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania. Along with the three fatalities, there was one injured person. The accident occurred yesterday afternoon (August 19) at around 4 p.m. on the SS385, the Catania-Caltagirone road. It happened at kilometer 34+200, along a straight stretch, in the territory of Mineo. The three deceased men were Gianluca Barbanti, 38 years old, Giuseppe Spampinato, 49 years old, and Piero Tatoli, 48 years old. They were all prison police officers traveling in the same car. They were en route to the patron saint festival in Mineo. They were stationed at the Catania Piazza Lanza prison. The injured person, 23 years old, was driving the other vehicle involved in the accident. The causes are still being investigated, both cars, a Peugeot 208 and a Lancia Delta, collided violently. They were traveling in opposite lanes, and the vehicles were almost completely destroyed. Local firefighters from Palagonia were at the scene, working to extract the people involved from the vehicles. The two officers died instantly and were both from Mineo. Several ambulances from the 118 emergency service were also present, providing initial medical care. The injured prison officer, from Bitonto, in Puglia, was transferred by helicopter to the Cannizzaro Hospital, where he later passed away. The 23-year-old was taken to the Gravina Hospital in Caltagirone. The Carabinieri of Palagonia are investigating to reconstruct the dynamics of the accident. The state road was closed to traffic to allow for the safe rescue operations, and vehicle traffic was redirected to secondary roads.