A family dispute following a night of drinking ended in tragedy early Wednesday morning, July 22, in Budoni, northeastern Sardinia, Italy.
According to local media reports, a 33-year-old man was driving his family home after spending the evening drinking with friends when his wife reportedly warned him that he was not fit to drive. An argument allegedly broke out inside the car, during which the man is accused of slapping his wife twice before forcing her out of the vehicle — leaving their 9-year-old son alone in the back seat.
The driver then reportedly sped away along a national road with his child still inside the car. Shortly afterward, he lost control, entered the road in the wrong direction, and crashed violently into a concrete construction barrier. The impact was fatal, and he died instantly.
In a remarkable turn of events, the child survived almost unharmed. Wearing his seat belt and secured in a properly installed child seat, the boy managed to free himself from the wreckage and wait beside the damaged vehicle until emergency services arrived. He was taken to the pediatric unit of Olbia Hospital, where doctors confirmed that his condition was not considered serious.
After returning home by hitchhiking and finding the house empty, the mother rushed to the hospital to be with her son.
The tragedy has deeply affected the local community, particularly the Ukrainian community in Olbia. The couple, who both worked together at a store specializing in Eastern European products, were known by many locals. The father also reportedly worked a second job at a seaside restaurant after finishing his shifts at the store.
Friends and relatives have since launched a fundraising campaign to help the family cover funeral expenses and support the mother and child during this devastating time.
