Man, 80, gets struck trying drive down the Spanish Steps in Rome
An 80-year-old man drove a car down the Spanish Steps in Rome early on Tuesday before getting stuck part way down, municipal police said in a statement.
The man tested negative for alcohol, police said. They did not identify the driver or say if the car, a Mercedes-Benz, was his. Nor did they say whether or not he was using a satnav.
Firefighters later used a crane to remove the vehicle. Police did not respond to requests for more details about the incident.
One of Rome's most recognisable monuments, the Spanish Steps were intended for motor vehicles, though some thrill seekers have tried their luck.
A Saudi man was charged with aggravated damage to cultural heritage after a surveillance camera recorded him driving a rented Maserati down the 135 travertine steps in 2022.
The Spanish Steps take their name from the Spanish embassy to the Holy See in a nearby square. A backdrop used in numerous films, they were built in the 1720s and have long been a popular spot.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Dozens of children injured after primary school hit with tear gas attack in Berlin in ‘mass casualty incident'
DOZENS of children are reported to have been injured at a Berlin primary school after it was tear-gassed. A total of 37 pupils are suffering symptoms following the incident at Miriam Makeba School. 1 The school was evacuated and shut just after 9am today following the incident. Affected pupils are reportedly being treated by emergency services at the scene. Tear gas was sprayed in the hallway of the school building, local media has reported. Students affected complained of shortness of breath and eye irritation. A fire department spokesperson told local media that 37 children were affected. "One child had to be transported to a hospital for further medical care," they added. A police spokesperson said that the building has been ventilated and there is no further danger to students and teachers. It comes following another incident in Germany at a school in Dresden in March. As many as 38 children were injured in a horror gas attack at a school. It was reported that an "irritating gas-like substance" was sprayed at the school. A spokesperson for the fire brigade said: "We have triggered a major alarm and prepared the clinics in Dresden and the surrounding area." Numerous children were complaining of breathing difficulties, irritated eyes and intense coughing. .
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The not-so-great escape: Moment inmate is found wedged in a concrete wall and has to be dug out after spending two days trying to tunnel out of his cell
This is the moment an inmate was found wedged in a concrete wall during a bungled escape attempt in Brazil. Alan Leandro da Silva, 29, reportedly spent two days using tools to dig the opening which had gone unnoticed in his cell at the prison in Rio Branco, Acre. Believing the hole he had carved was wide enough, da Silva appears to have sensed freedom and tried to slip through - only to find himself quickly lodged in the concrete. Guards foiled the attempted escape after seeing movement in the man's cell on Monday, June 16, before calling firefighters to help free him. The astonishing footage shows the inmate, whose upper body had started to strain from dangling over the floor, being drilled out of the wall from behind by rescuers. With tattoos on his back, the 32-year-old can be seen leaning on a blue chair with the concrete gripped around his torso. Officers said they had to be careful not to injure him as he was shirtless, and managed to extract the prisoner unharmed. A fire department spokesman said: 'According to the inmate's own account, the hole was dug for two days using a nail and a broomstick. 'However, during the escape attempt, he was trapped inside the opening. 'In view of the situation, Criminal Police called the Fire Department to carry out the rescue. 'After thorough work, the rescue team was able to successfully release the victim who was safely handed over to the Criminal Police team that was already on standby at the scene.' Local reports say the man was quizzed by officers who are investigating the escape attempt and the damage caused to public property. Prison officials did not clarify how the man came to acquire the tools or how the hole in the wall went unnoticed. He was also given first aid before being hauled back into his cell which he shares with other inmates, who according to local reports, assisted him.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The dramatic moment a pensioner gets stuck driving down iconic Rome landmark - before being hoisted out by crane
A pensioner accidentally got stuck driving down Rome's famous Spanish Steps, and ended up having to be rescued by police, firefighters and a crane. At around 4am on Tuesday, an unnamed 80-year-old man was driving his Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan through Italy 's capital, when he accidentally turned onto the historic landmark. A video that's gone viral shows the car falling halfway down the 135 stone steps, before coming to a complete stop, wedged and unable to move further. The car is then seen being lifted off the Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti by a crane. Following the incident, the area was quickly cordoned off, police officers and firefighters were called to the scene, and public access to the Spanish Steps was temporarily restricted. According to CNN, archaeologists were also brought in to assess the site for any damage, which is a common occurrence with protected heritage sites. Although an inspection revealed damage to the vehicle, officials have yet to confirm whether the staircase itself sustained any harm. While it's unclear how exactly this accident happened, the man told police he'd been 'going to work' at the time. While it's unclear how exactly this accident happened, the man told police he'd been 'going to work' at the time The officers at the scene stopped him and took him to hospital, where tests confirmed he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and was unharmed. This isn't the first time someone has mistakenly driven down the Spanish Steps. In 2022, a 37-year-old man from Saudi Arabia drove a Maserati down the same staircase, causing physical damage to the monument. Unlike this man, that driver fled the scene but was later tracked down thanks to CCTV footage and rental car records. He was eventually arrested at Milan's Malpensa airport and charged with aggravated damage to cultural heritage and monuments.
