VENICE, Italy (AP) — Venice's mayor is convening experts to resolve the worsening problem of congestion in the lagoon city's waterways after a German tourist died when a gondola he was riding in with his family crashed into a larger boat.
Mayor Giorgio Orsoni expressed his condolences following the crash Saturday, which occurred around noon near the highly trafficked Rialto bridge on the Grand Canal.
Police spokeswoman Erica Veronica Di Francesco says the vaporetto, or public bus that ferries passengers around Venice, was pulling into dock when it crashed into the gondola carrying five members of a visiting German family. She says that contrary to earlier reports, none of the gondola's occupants fell into the water.
Mayor Orsoni says the problem of congestion in Venice's waterways must be confronted.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
A German tourist has died in Venice after the gondola he was riding in crashed into a larger boat ferrying passengers along the Grand Canal.
Venice fire chief of staff Giovanni Carlesso says the crash occurred around noon near the highly trafficked Rialto bridge.
He says the vaporetto, or the public "water bus" that plies the lagoon city, was either docking or pulling out of the Rialto stop and apparently didn't see the nearby gondola, which was carrying five members of a visiting German family. All five passengers and the gondolier ended up in the water.
Carlesso says the father was believed to have been crushed to death in the crash. His 3-year-old child was hospitalized in Padua with head injuries.
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