A Saudi Arabian engineer has been caught driving a Maserati down Rome’s Spanish Steps, damaging one of the world’s most iconic monuments. The 37-year-old, who had rented the Maserati, could be identified on the basis of video surveillance recordings, the daily Corriere della Sera reported on Sunday.
The man was caught at Milan airport when he wanted to return the car to a car rental company. He is accused of driving the Maserati off the steps of the Trinità dei Monti church on Wednesday evening. At least three steps were damaged, the police spokesman said. The incident was recorded with video cameras. With the help of passers-by, the driver was able to exit the stairs and drive away, the media said.
GPS guides the driver up the stairs
The mechanic explained that he was tracking his GPS device and accidentally got on the stairs. This was also confirmed by a Romanian woman who was in the car with him. The engineer is defended by the prominent lawyer Carlo della Vedova – he had represented the American citizen Amanda Knox. The Saudi said he regretted the damage to the stairs and agreed to pay the cost of the restoration.
The 18th-century staircase by architect Francesco De Sanctis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Several times cars drove down the stairs. In 2018, a driver lost control of the wheel and in 2007 a drunk drove down the Baroque stairs. How to better protect it has long been discussed – a road not closed to traffic leads along the upper part.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
