Lufthansa CEO’s Wife Under Investigation After Fatal Car Crash in Sardinia
Vivian Spohr, wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, is under investigation for negligent homicide after allegedly fatally striking a 24-year-old woman with her SUV in Sardinia. The victim, Gaia Costa, died from head injuries after being hit at a pedestrian crossing.
Enet
Vivian Alexandra Spohr, wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, is under investigation in Italy after allegedly fatally hitting a 24-year-old woman with her SUV in Sardinia, then returning to Germany.
The victim, Gaia Costa, died on Tuesday, July 8, after being struck while crossing a pedestrian walkway in Porto Cervo. Spohr, 51, was reportedly vacationing with her daughter when the incident occurred.
Costa, a local babysitter, was found critically injured but still alive at the scene. Emergency crews attempted resuscitation for 20 minutes, but she later succumbed to a severe head injury. CCTV footage reportedly shows Costa trying to signal the oncoming SUV in a desperate attempt to avoid being hit.
Reports say Spohr was unaware she had hit someone until a passer-by stopped her. Upon realizing what had happened, she allegedly fainted. Toxicology tests showed no traces of alcohol or drugs in her system. She has since returned to Munich.
Italian authorities have opened a case for negligent vehicular homicide. Prosecutor Milena Aucone has named Spohr as a suspect. Her legal team says she is cooperating fully with the investigation. A statement released on her behalf said she "expresses her dismay and deep regret over this very serious accident."
The SUV involved has been seized for forensic analysis, and an autopsy on Costa is pending. No arrests have been made as of Friday.
Porto Cervo’s mayor, Gianni Addis, paid tribute to Costa, calling her “a young woman deeply engaged in the city’s social and cultural life” and “passionate about our traditions.”
According to the European Road Safety Observatory, Italy recorded 2,395 road deaths in 2020, ranking 11th among EU countries with the lowest fatality rates per million residents.
