Highway company CEO sentenced to 12 years for Genoa bridge collapse

Expert reports commissioned by prosecutors proved the tragedy could have been entirely avoided if routine inspections and maintenance had actually been carried out.

Former Autostrade per l’Italia (ASPI) CEO Giovanni Castellucci has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in the first-instance trial for the collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa. The tragedy on August 14, 2018 killed 43 people who were traveling across the road bridge in cars and trucks when the structure gave way. The former executive was found guilty of negligent collapse and vehicular manslaughter, though the aggravating circumstance regarding workplace safety violations was dismissed. Prosecutors had requested a sentence of 18 years and six months.

In total, the July 16 verdict handed down 32 convictions totaling 180 years in prison, compared to the 400 years sought by prosecutors. Alongside Castellucci, the court convicted Michele Donferri Mitelli, former head of maintenance at ASPI (11 years); Paolo Berti, former general manager of ASPI (five years and six months); and Antonino Galatà, former CEO of SPEA, the engineering firm tasked with monitoring the infrastructure on ASPI's behalf (five years and six months).

Mauro Coletta, the former director........

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