Bologna Police stop German woman after 40-minute wrong-way highway chase

A 32-year-old German woman was apprehended by the Bologna State Police following a high-speed, 40-minute pursuit on the A1 motorway. On August 20, the woman drove her minivan in the wrong direction on the 'Citerna' highway pass, heading toward Barberino di Mugello.

The incident triggered dozens of emergency calls to the 112-NUE center. In response, six police patrols were deployed, and authorities implemented technical closures of the Panoramica and Direttissima sections between Barberino di Mugello and Badia/Roncobilaccio to mitigate the extreme risk posed by heavy traffic.

During the chase, the driver evaded initial attempts to stop her by maneuvering around police vehicles and reversing direction again at the Barberino di Mugello junction, cutting across oncoming traffic lanes.