Breaking News11:15am UK, Wednesday September 23, 2009
Nick Pisa, Rome
Three British motorcyclists have been killed and another is fighting for her life after they crashed on a touring holiday in northern Italy.
Police are investigating the theory that the bikes were on the wrong side of the road
The two couples, who have not been named, collided head on with a lorry carrying building material as they came out of a tunnel and are thought to have been on the wrong side of the road.
Two men and a woman were killed instantly. Another woman was helicoptered to hospital and was in a critical condition.
The tragedy happened at Mezzolombardo, Trento, around 300 metres from the tunnel exit and police are working on the theory the group, who were from the south of England were on the wrong side of the road in the mistaken belief it was one way.
The group had been visiting a rider injured in an earlier accident
The four were members of the Motorcycle Touring Club of Europe and were taking part in the end of season meeting in northern Italy, having arrived last week.
TV footage showed a blue motorcycle on its side by the edge of the road with the front of the truck severely damaged.
Debris littered the road and two bodies were covered with blankets.
Police and firefighters spent several hours at the scene.
Crash was at Trento in northern Italy
One local reports said the bikers were in their 60s.
Speaking from the hotel where the 40-strong club were staying, a group spokesman said: ''It's very upsetting to talk about it. We are all very shocked.
''They were two couples from the south of England and were taking part in our end of season tour.
''It hadn't started very well as one of our members was in an accident the day we arrived and the four had gone to visit him in hospital and were on their way back to the hotel when the accident happened.''
A police spokesman in Trento said: ''One of the theories is that they were on the wrong side of the road.''
The driver of the lorry was unhurt and will be questioned later.
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