A tragic accident has claimed the life of 20-year-old Thomas Qirjaj, of Albanian origin, in the early hours of Friday, 30 October, on the A1 motorway near Melegnano in Italy.
According to Italian media, Thomas was travelling with four friends in a Volvo with Swiss plates. After passing the motorway toll point, the driver lost control and the car crashed into the central barrier between the lanes.
After the crash, the 20-year-old got out of the vehicle to place the emergency warning triangle and warn other drivers. At that moment, he was struck by an SUV driven by a 25-year-old from Modena.
Thomas was rushed to the Predabissi hospital in Vizzolo, but he could not survive his injuries.
He would have turned 21 in December
Thomas was born in Piacenza and lived with his parents in Caorso. He was the only child of a family of Albanian origin, and in December he would have celebrated his 21st birthday.
His loss has shocked the community where he lived. The mayor of Caorso, Roberta Battaglia, expressed condolences to the family, remembering him as a young man she had watched grow up.
Thomas was also involved in amateur football. The club where he had played cancelled the scheduled match as a sign of mourning.
The Road Police and the Lodi Prosecutor’s Office are investigating to establish the causes of the initial collision and the circumstances in which the SUV struck the young man.