European road incidents: Italian driver rescued from river and British speedster fined in Switzerland

In Bolzano, Italy, a car left the roadway along the left bank of the Isarco River and plunged into the water shortly before 9 p.m. The driver remained calm, escaped the vehicle and reached the riverbank before the current could carry the car downstream. Firefighters from the permanent and volunteer units, along with volunteer divers, rescued the driver, who suffered only minor injuries, and began a complex recovery operation for the vehicle, hindered by rising water levels and strong currents. Police investigators opened an inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.

Separately, a 42‑year‑old British motorist was recorded traveling at 196 km/h on the Passo del Susten in the Swiss Alps, far exceeding the 80 km/h limit. The speed was captured by a semi‑stationary speed camera during a series of checks by the Bern cantonal police in early July. The driver faces a potential criminal charge under Switzerland’s “Raser‑delikt” law, which treats extreme speeding as a serious offence. Five other foreign‑registered vehicles were also identified for exceeding speed limits, with investigations ongoing.