Solarolo (Ravenna), September 13, 2026 – The news of the death at only 22 years old of Gabriele Mattei, riding his motorcycle in the accident that occurred on via Pana Friday afternoon, has deeply shaken the entire community of Solarolo. Starting with the mayor Maria Diletta Beltrani who says: “As a mother I am heartbroken, as an administrator, together with the council, the city council and the entire community, I express the deepest and most heartfelt condolences for the tragic and sudden loss of Gabriele. I am shocked by the very serious mourning that affects the territory, the whole city embraces the most affectionate hug to the heartbreaking pain of the family, sharing with closeness the tragedy of the father Andrea, the mother Mirka, the siblings”.
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The father lieutenant colonel of the carabinieri
The boy lived in the heart of the Faentino town with his family. The father Andrea is a lieutenant colonel of the carabinieri — long in service as marshal at the Granarolo Faentino Station, then promoted officer in Reggio Emilia (the city where Gabriele was born), he continued his career in Chioggia and finally in Bologna where he holds the role of head of the Logistics and Infrastructure section, at the Regional Command. Gabriele worked with his mother Mirka, well known for managing the tobacco shop ‘Al Cavalcavia’ on via Oriani in Faenza. The 22-year-old, besides his father and mother, leaves behind siblings Gilberto, Michele, Lorenzo and Elena.
Solarolo in shock
Despite the family’s natural and deep privacy, the emotion in Solarolo is enormous. Already yesterday morning many gathered around the parents and siblings in their home in the city center to offer comfort and closeness in a moment of inconsolable pain.
Also yesterday morning, Saturday, at the mortuary room of the Faenza hospital, the formal moment of recognition of the boy took place.
The last farewell
The funeral will be held tomorrow, Monday, the 14th, at 11 am, in the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta in Solarolo. The transport to the town cemetery will follow.
Meanwhile investigations continue on the accident in which Gabriele Mattei lost his life, which occurred around 5 pm on Friday along the provincial road Pana, at the intersection with via Cassanigo, near the Naldoni plant. In the crash, besides the Yamaha motorcycle with the boy on board, a Volvo V70, carrying a family of Dutch origin, and a Peugeot driven by a woman were involved. Following the violent impact, Gabriele was thrown several meters from the roadway. Emergency services intervened immediately with 118 personnel, arriving on site with ambulance and air ambulance. Unfortunately, for the 22-year-old there was nothing to be done and the doctor could only confirm his death. The two occupants of the Volvo V70 were transported to the ‘Bufalini’ hospital in Cesena, in medium severity code.
An investigation opened: vehicular manslaughter
On site, for legal surveys and case investigations, agents of the Ravenna Traffic Police intervened, as well as a patrol from the Faenza Police Station and personnel from the Local Police of the Romagna Faentina Union for traffic management. The on-duty prosecutor Francesco Coco opened a file for vehicular manslaughter. The 22-year-old’s motorcycle was seized, while the results of toxicological tests, carried out as standard on the drivers of the two vehicles involved in the crash, are awaited.
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