15-year-old Albanian boy dies in Italy after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle

A 15-year-old Albanian boy has died in Italy after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle. Manuel Korreshi, who lived in Castegnero Nanto, was struck by a vehicle along Riviera Berica, near Ponte di Barbarano.

The teenager was taken to San Bortolo hospital in Vicenza, but despite doctors’ efforts to save his life, he died shortly before 8 p.m. in the pediatric intensive care unit. His injuries from the accident were very severe.

Manuel Korreshi attended the Lampertico Institute in Vicenza and played football for AC Este. He is survived by his parents, of Albanian origin, and his older brother Enea, with whom he had played in the Longare Castegnero youth teams. Enea currently plays for the Este U16 team in the Padua area, where he had also scored a goal.

“Fly high, striker,” his friends remembered him, while classmates at the Lampertico Institute in Vicenza expressed their grief over the young footballer’s loss.

Accident near Ponte di Barbarano

The circumstances of the accident are being investigated by the Vicenza Carabinieri, who intervened together with the Suem emergency services.

According to an initial reconstruction, Manuel — who lived with his mother in Castegnero Nanto, on Via Venezia — was riding his bicycle home. A few minutes after 1 a.m., as he traveled on provincial road 247 heading north and approached a roundabout a few hundred meters before the entrance to Ponte di Barbarano, he was hit by a car traveling in the same direction.

In the collision, the 15-year-old was thrown onto the asphalt and then ended up in the ditch beside the road, a few meters away. According to published information, Manuel had been with his father in Barbarano and was returning to his mother.

Rescue services intervene

The driver stopped and, realizing the gravity of the situation, immediately notified the 118 operations center. The Suem ambulance, with a doctor on board, arrived at the scene.

The 15-year-old was unconscious. He was stabilized, intubated and urgently transported to San Bortolo hospital in Vicenza, where he was immediately admitted to intensive care.

Driver’s testimony: “It was dark, I didn’t see him”

The driver told the Carabinieri he had not seen the bicycle.

“It was very dark,” he said, still shaken by the event. “I didn’t even notice it until it suddenly appeared in front of me.”

The Carabinieri have notified the Prosecutor’s Office, while investigations continue to determine the circumstances of the accident and possible liabilities. The seizure of the vehicles and the opening of a vehicular-homicide investigation are also being considered.

It remains to be determined whether the 15-year-old’s bicycle had its light on at the time of the accident.

Death of Manuel Korreshi

The 15-year-old’s health condition was critical from the first moments. Despite doctors’ efforts and the hopes of family and friends, his condition did not improve.

Shortly before 8 p.m., doctors delivered the grave news of Manuel’s death.

“This is a tragedy that deeply saddens us,” said the mayor of Castegnero Nanto, Manuela Vecchiatti. “Manuel was only 15 years old and his death has affected our entire community. At this time, our thoughts go especially to his family, with whom we share the grief.”

“Rest in peace, Manu,” “Forever one of us,” “Gone too soon,” wrote some of his friends, shaken by the loss of the 15-year-old.