Edward Marchesi Around 16:00 PM on a late October afternoon, on the quiet Via Porrino in San Sperate, a routine maintenance job turned tragic. A 42-year-old man , originally from Bosnia , was performing repairs to his van parked in his front yard when the lifting device suddenly failed.
The jack , a vital tool for lifting vehicles, proved to be faulty. The van, still raised, fell with all its weight onto the relative's chest, causing fatal trauma. The 42-year-old's children, who were in the same yard, immediately raised the alarm, alerting emergency services.
Incident occurred in Via Porrino, San Sperate
According to preliminary investigations, the vehicle had been placed under a jack to allow access to the engine compartment. When the mechanism failed, the vehicle fell, crushing the victim under its weight. The accident occurred on private property, just minutes from the center of Cagliari, but the speed of the intervention had little impact on the final outcome.
Preliminary causes: the defective jack
Authorities have already suspected that the jack was not in optimal condition: signs of wear or possibly inadequate maintenance could have compromised its ability to support the load. It should be remembered that a jack must safely support the weight of the vehicle; any defect could turn a routine operation into a life-threatening hazard.
Emergency services intervened and the Carabinieri investigated.
Within minutes of the alarm, emergency services and the Carabinieri arrived on the scene. Despite the efforts of emergency responders, the 42-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. The Carabinieri have begun investigative procedures to accurately reconstruct the accident, analyzing the lifting device, anchor points, and ground conditions.
Details on the reconstruction of the dynamics
Inspectors are examining the jack to identify any breakages or structural failures. Additionally, testimonies from the children and photographs of the scene will be used to create a virtual model of the scene, with the aim of determining whether there was any other negligence, such as the lack of safety devices or improper use of the tool.
This incident highlights the need to regularly inspect household tools. A simple check could prevent similar tragedies, especially when large vehicles are involved.