Inter Milan goalkeeper Josep Martínéz was involved in a tragic incident on Tuesday morning resulting in the death of an 81-year-old man, as confirmed by Italian police to ESPN.
The 27-year-old Martínéz was en route to Inter’s training facility in Appiano Gentile when, at 9:43 a.m., his vehicle struck a man in an electric wheelchair who had moved into his lane on a provincial road in Fenegrò, Como, Italy, according to the police report.
Martínéz immediately stopped and called for emergency assistance. Paramedics and a helicopter arrived shortly thereafter, but they were unable to revive the injured man.
According to Como’s police department, Martínéz was unharmed but was left shaken and was undergoing routine blood tests at a nearby hospital to check for drugs and alcohol.
Authorities have initiated an investigation, examining tire marks on the road to assess the braking distance and initial speed at the time of the collision.
Preliminary findings suggest the electric wheelchair may have changed direction suddenly. As a result, the scheduled press conference for Inter Milan’s coach Christian Chivu at 2 p.m. local time has been canceled.
Inter is set to host Fiorentina on Wednesday in Serie A.