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Crashed gondola on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy
Photo: Vigili del Fuoco Firefighters / AP / dpa
In the case of the gondola that crashed in northern Italy with 14 dead, the judiciary is investigating other people.
That said the responsible prosecutor Olimpia Bossi.
The group of suspects has therefore expanded to a total of 14 people.
Among the newcomers are also senior employees of the South Tyrolean cable car manufacturer Leitner.
»For the Verbania public prosecutor's office to be included in the investigation register, it was obvious that there was a maintenance contract between Leitner and Ferrovie del Mottarone Srl. there. ", explained Leitner in a statement. The company has already made extensive documentation available to the investigating authorities. Leitner had carried out maintenance work and checks on the cable car that leads from the city of Stresa on the west bank of Lake Maggiore up to Monte Mottarone.
In the accident on Whitsunday, the train's pull rope broke.
Actually, at that moment, the emergency brakes on the suspension cable should have acted and prevented the gondola, which is occupied by 15 people, from falling.
However, because the emergency brakes were blocked with forks, the cabin rushed downhill, jumped out of its anchorage on a pillar and crashed on a steep slope.
According to the investigation, the brakes had previously caused disruptions in operation, which is why they were blocked with the forks.
These may actually only be used for maintenance work.
It is still unclear exactly who is responsible.
Only a young Israeli boy survived the crash, who lost his parents, a brother and great-grandparents in the accident.
After a long hospital stay and an operation, his aunt, who lives in Italy, took him in.
The investigation initially focused on three men of the cable car operator.
lmd / dpa
