Milan, March 21 – Two young individuals, Elisa Teodora Dranca, 20, and Mithum Sandeepa Perera Kuranage, 23, died instantly in a horrific collision involving a motorcycle and a taxi early Friday morning in Milan. The accident, which occurred at the intersection of Corso XXII Marzo and Viale Campania, is believed to have been caused by the motorcycle running a red light at high speed.
The Tragic Incident Unfolds
The incident took place shortly after 3:30 AM. According to initial reports and dashcam footage, a powerful Kawasaki Ninja 650 motorcycle, described as a “green projectile,” sped through a red light at the intersection. It then collided head-on with the side of a Toyota Rav 4 taxi. The impact was so severe that the taxi, despite its size, overturned and was propelled dozens of meters from the point of collision.
Emergency services arrived swiftly at the scene, but tragically, there was nothing that could be done for the two young people on the motorcycle. They were pronounced dead at the scene. The 61-year-old taxi driver, identified as A.A., sustained injuries and was transported to the Policlinico hospital in yellow code.
Investigation Underway
Local police are meticulously reconstructing the dynamics of the crash using surveillance footage and evidence collected at the scene. The dashcam video from the taxi reportedly confirms that the taxi proceeded through the intersection on a green light, while the motorcycle approached from Piazza Piola along Viale Campania at high speed, disregarding the red signal.
The public prosecutor has ordered autopsies on the bodies of the victims to determine the exact cause of death. Both vehicles have been impounded, along with the helmets worn by the riders – a jet helmet for Elisa and a full-face helmet for Mithum, which was dislodged by the force of the impact.
Lives Cut Short
Elisa Teodora Dranca, originally from Romania, resided in Locate di Triulzi. After graduating, she had taken a gap year and was working at a local shop to save money for university, with plans to study Marketing at Cattolica University alongside her friend Anna.
Mithum Sandeepa Perera Kuranage, from Lucca with Sri Lankan roots, had moved to Milan in January. He held two jobs to support himself: working at a real estate agency during the week and at a bar on weekends. Friends described him as “always cheerful, kind, and helpful.”
The two had only met recently, on Sunday, through their mutual friend Anna. After several days of messaging, they had their first outing on Thursday. On the night of the accident, Elisa was supposed to celebrate a birthday with friends, but she needed to be home early for work the next morning. Mithum had offered to give her a ride home on his motorcycle after she finished her celebrations. They had even made a stop at a fast-food restaurant before resuming their journey, which ended tragically.
The incident has cast a pall over the Milanese community, highlighting the devastating consequences of traffic accidents. Authorities continue their investigation to fully understand all circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
Source: https://milano.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_marzo_21/milano-elisa-e-mithum-morti-sul-colpo-la-moto-contro-il-taxi-a-tutta-velocita-dopo-aver-bruciato-il-rosso-ee791007-805d-4e13-beb3-86fd7b16dxlk.shtml
