Two white sheets between the tracks: this is the image of the tragedy that struck a small town in Valtellina on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Under those sheets, the bodies of two boys, one 15 and the other 17 years old, run over and killed in the late afternoon by a train near the small station of Berbenno (Sondrio).

The two friends, instead of using the pedestrian underpass, decided to climb over the concrete wall that divides the tracks from the Stelvio state road 38. Perhaps to hurry up and not miss the train, but just at that moment the Trenord convoy was arriving at high speed for Milan Central Station, which did not stop at that station.

The driver didn't have time to brake and was unable to avoid the terrible impact with the two teenagers, who had no escape, despite the immediate alarm. To give an idea of the violence of the impact, the train stopped about 150 meters from the point where the young people were swept away.

The Prosecutor of Sondrio has opened an investigation, as per practice in such cases. Rail traffic in the Sondrio-Colico section was suspended for several hours with delays along the entire line.

Many aspects of the tragedy remain to be clarified: one above all, if the two very young people were alone when they made the rash act or in the company of other friends, who would thus have witnessed the investment. The children should have returned to Sondrio with a local train which also stops at the Berbenno station where the tragedy took place.

(Unioneonline/L)

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