Two motorcyclists were killed in a collision with a tractor-trailer on Interstate 75 in Florida. The two men, along with a third who was uninjured, were from Turin, Italy, and were vacationing on a motorcycle ride through the state.
The accident happened north of Orlando not far south of Ocala on June 13. The truck was hauling mail, apparently on a contract with the United States Postal Service.
Three Italian men touring Florida
At the time of the accident, the fatalities were both on 2018 Harley Davidsons and wearing their helmets.
One was Bruno Dicosimo, the 55-year-old owner of a fashion atelier (meaning workshop or studio) in Turin. The other was 45-year-old Francesco Vitagliano, the owner of a chandelier shop.
Vitagliano’s wife, Antonella, told the Milan news site Notizie.it that her husband was passionate about “the American dream” and a great lover of the United States. He was an expert on motorcycles, especially Harley Davidsons, which he made “a part of the heart, a part of the family, a part of life.”
The uninjured third was not identified by news reports, but accounts described him as “in shock.” He appeared very distressed as he stood on the interstate shortly after the accident, speaking into a cellphone.
The accident and the truck
The incident began with a separate crash in which an SUV struck a guardrail, causing a traffic slowdown, witnesses told reporters.
Seemingly, Dicosimo applied his breaks so hard that the bike’s rear wheel smoked, and he lost control. Vitagliano maneuvered to avoid hitting Dicosimo and both men were thrown into the center lane.
There, a 66-year-old truck driver from Lauderhill, Florida, was driving a 2019 Volvo semi. He was unable to avoid running into the motorcyclists despite swerving to avoid them.
An Army medic in an uninvolved vehicle happened to witness the driver’s attempt to prevent the accident. She reported that the men died at scene.
