# Wrong-way motorway chase in Italy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/wrong-way-motorway-chase-in-italy
> Updated: 2026-09-05T05:06:33.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

On August 20, a 32-year-old German woman caused a major disruption on Italy’s A1 motorway by driving her Volkswagen Caddy the wrong way for approximately 50 kilometers near the Apennines. The high-speed pursuit lasted about 40 minutes and involved the Citerna pass, Barberino di Mugello, Badia, and Roncobilaccio.

To mitigate extreme risks to heavy traffic, authorities deployed six police patrols and coordinated with Autostrade per l’Italia to implement technical closures of several motorway sections. During the chase, the driver evaded initial attempts to stop her by maneuvering around police vehicles and cutting across oncoming traffic lanes.

Following her apprehension, the woman was hospitalized in a highly agitated state. Subsequent medical examinations determined that her erratic behavior was caused by a cannabis overdose.

## Claims

- A 32-year-old woman drove the wrong way on the A1 motorway in Italy. (single source)
- The incident occurred near the Apennines on August 20. (single source)
- The driver traveled the wrong way for more than 50 kilometers over 40 minutes. (single source)
- Six police officers pursued the driver. (single source)
- The driver was under the influence of a cannabis overdose. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-05: Italy A1 motorway: Driver pursued after 50km wrong-way chase

A 32-year-old woman driving a German-registered van drove the wrong way for 50 kilometers on Italy's A1 motorway, leading to a 40-minute police chase and a cannabis overdose diagnosis.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-a1-motorway-driver-pursued-after-50km-wrong-way-chase

### 2026-09-02: Bologna Police stop German woman after 40-minute wrong-way highway chase

Bologna police stopped a 32-year-old German woman after a 40-minute high-speed pursuit involving wrong-way driving on the A1 motorway near Barberino di Mugello.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bologna-police-stop-german-woman-after-40-minute-wrong-way-highway-chase

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Cite as: Wrong-way motorway chase in Italy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/wrong-way-motorway-chase-in-italy