A woman died, and seven other people were injured after a boulder fell onto the cars in a funeral procession in Italy

A 66-year-old woman died, while seven other people were injured after a huge boulder broke loose from a mountainside and fell onto several cars in a funeral procession. The tragedy took place on Saturday, September 12, at around 1:30 p.m., on regional road 521, between the towns of Morro Reatino and Leonessa, in the Italian province of Rieti.

The victim, Maria Antonietta D’Andrea, was behind the wheel of a car, together with her husband. The two were heading to the cemetery in Castelluccio di Cascia, where the woman’s mother was to be buried. The boulder suddenly broke loose from the mountainside and fell directly onto the car. The woman died instantly, while her husband was injured.

After the initial impact, the rock also struck other cars in the convoy. Seven people were injured, and those taking part in the procession were gripped by panic.

Emergency medical crews and law enforcement officers arrived at the scene of the accident. Rescuers provided medical care to the victims, while police began investigating to establish the circumstances in which the boulder broke loose.