Briciole d'anima

We're destroyed, says tearful dad

By Breda Heffernan and Valentina Dello Russo
Wednesday March 19 2008


The father of hit-and-run driver Friedrich Vernarelli broke down in tears yesterday as he said he and his wife are "destroyed" following the arrest of their son for the deaths of two Irish tourists in Rome.

Roberto Vernarelli, a former mayor and police chief in the city -- and a prominent road safety campaigner -- said he never dreamed that the disaster waiting to happen at an accident black spot would involve his son.

Yesterday, footage of the 32-year-old Mr Vernarelli driving with no hands was posted on video-sharing website YouTube. The video was chillingly cut with footage taken from the scene where friends Elizabeth Anne Gubbins (27) and Mary Clare Collins (28) died instantly.

Speaking to local reporters, Roberto Vernarelli said his son was a "good boy" who doesn't drink.

"I haven't words to describe how I feel, I cannot take it in. Two girls, the same age as my son, are now dead, that is terrible enough, but that my son is to blame? I can't take it in. It's unbelievable -- he was such a good guy, a normal guy, at home and at work."

"I want to know exactly what happened, some reports said he drove off, others that he stopped, realised what had happened, and then ran off. I don't know what happened," he added.

Responding to criticism that his son was under house arrest rather than being in police custody, he said: "Where would he go? To escape is stupid.

Stupid

"Running away is not the answer. Problems have to be solved. Accidents can happen, but to run away would be stupid. It is not the answer."

Mr Vernarelli said he had not yet spoken to his son as he went to sleep after being brought home.

"Me and my wife, we are destroyed. We are waiting for him to wake up and then we want to talk with him to understand what happened. One fact is clear; two girls are dead, that is all we know so far," he added.

He later appeared on Italian television saying his son was in a "terrible state and is crying all the time".

- Breda Heffernan and Valentina Dello Russo on the Independent