Police say a speeding car has plowed into a group of cyclists in southern Italy and killed at least seven of them. Sgt. Umberto Perri of the municipal police in Lamezia Terme said two other people were airlifted by helicopter to area hospitals in critical condition.
Another police official, Nicola Ottocalli, told Sky TG24 that one of those later died, bringing the total to eight dead. He said the car was going above the speed limit when the accident happened on Sunday morning. The ANSA news agency said the driver, who was among the injured, was placed under arrest.
It is common in Italy to see groups of amateur cyclists taking to small state roads on weekends. Lamezia Terme is near Catanzaro in Calabria, in the "toe" of boot-shaped Italy.