Tragic death Cyclist Sara Piffer killed aged 19 in...

A TEENAGE cyclist was killed in a horror traffic collision during a training ride.

Sara Piffer, 19, was hit head-on and killed when an oncoming car overtook from the other side of the road and crashed into her.

The incident occurred as Piffer went for the ride with her brother near her home in Trentino, northern Italy, with several eyewitnesses confirming details of the crash with police.

A driver who hit and killed her, a 70-year-old man, is being investigated by police for vehicular homicide.

Reports suggest the driver struggled to see her due to the sun. Piffer was taken to hospital by helicopter but died due to her injuries.

But in a stunning gesture, the father of the young athlete, Lorenzo, has said he forgives the driver.

It came following a plea from his son, Christian, who was out with Priffer when the crash happened.

Lorenzo said: “After the accident, my son Christian hugged me and said, ‘Dad, please forgive him. Because I think he’s suffering right now too.’

“So I decided to forgive him. Then justice will take its course.”

Lorenzo added his daughter was “always careful” on the roads, which he later described as a “Wild West”.

Christian reportedly called his father following the crash, tragically telling him, “Sara is not breathing”.

Before heading out, Piffer is said to have told Lorezno before going out: “‘Dad, we always pay attention, it’s the others who don’t pay attention to us.’ And unfortunately, that’s how it was.”

The death of Piffer – said to be sporty and artistic and enjoy painting and making sculptures – has rocked the local community, with tributes pouring in.

Lorenzo told Italian media in an emotional interview she was “a flower, a gift from God” and he was “grateful” to have had her in his life.

He added: “She was good at doing everything.”

Maurizio Fugatti, the President of the Province of Trento, said in a statement: “Our condolences go out to the family, friends and the entire community.”

Piffer was a winner of the Under-23 Giornata Nazionale Rosa – GP Città di Corridonia in 2024, a member of Mendelspeck Continental women’s team and earned fourth place in a team time trial event at the Italian National al Championships.

Christian miraculously only suffered minor injuries from the incident.

He said: “I heard a noise, I looked back, then ran to my sister but there was nothing I could do. At first I was angry with the driver, then I saw that they were scared and ashamed.”

Lorenzo also highlighted how the roads around town had gotten out of control.

He said: “I’d say we need more common sense. Unfortunately, they always realise it too late. Maybe to save that minute they put other people’s lives at risk. I see things getting worse on the roads.”

Piffer’s funeral was held today.

In an interview with La Repubblica, her mother, Marianna, said: “They asked me to choose the clothes for my daughter’s funeral, I picked a cycling jersey she won last year.

“It has ‘winner’ on the front and she dedicated that success to Matteo Lorenzi, who was killed last year. Sara was always a winner for me.”