A female driver accidentally drove her old car straight into a fountain in central Catania, Sicily. She was transported to hospital with minor injuries.
The footage from the crash scene shows the car, an old Opel Corsa, and the driver in the Fontana di Proserpina (Fountain of Prosperity), located not far from the Central Station in Catania, on the Southern island of Sicily. Locals are shocked to see such an event in their quiet town.
The female driver lost control of her Opel and went straight into the monumental fountain, which is more than a century old. Videos from the crash scene soon became viral on social media. They show both the car and the driver in the 16-inch (40-centimeter) deep water.
People gathered around to see the aftermath of the crash, but no one actually interfered to help the woman out of the car. A woman is seen trying to calm the driver down. She is conscious, speaking with those who ask her questions from the sidewalk and does not seem hurt.
Authorities mentioned that the 58-year old female driver lost control of her gray Opel Corsa, must have hit the throttle instead of the brake pedal, and accelerated straight into the fountain.
She was alone in the car at the moment of the incident, and there was not any other car involved. Even though it is a crowded area of Catania, no pedestrian was hit by the car on its way to the water monument. The driver was transported to the nearest hospital with minor injuries. The front end of the car took quite a blow, so the old Corsa is most likely a write-off. Ambulances, police, and firefighters arrived at the scene.
The fountain also sustained minor damages in the area where it was hit by the car. Luckily, the monument in the center of the fountain, which is entirely made of concrete, was not impacted by the crash. The fire department had to lift the car out of the water. Authorities are investigating the incident. Considering the age of the car, they are also considering a technical issue.
The local media tags the incident as "difficult to believe at first sight," "incredible," "sinister," and "surreal," and note that it scared those living in the area as well as other traffic participants.
The social media posts that show the aftermath of the crash are accompanied by funny comments. "Now her wish is going to come true for sure," someone writes, referring to the common superstition that it brings good luck. The most famous wishing-upon-a-coin fountain is Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Foutain) in Rome, Italy, where authorities gather tons of coins every month.
Another user ironically says about the car that ended up in the fountain in central Catania, Sicily: "The things people would do for free parking…"
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