Neurological image Zanardi still very serious; Truck driver sober

Alex Zanardi (53), former Formula 1 driver, two-time CART champion and four-time paralympic champion, was seriously injured in an accident with his 'handbike' on public roads on Friday. The Italian has had surgery, but is still in critical condition.

Zanardi was on the road with a group of friends and teammates in a friendly charity race (raising money to get Italy back on track after the corona crisis) when he lost control of his bike in a descent. He crossed the road twice and ended up on the wrong side of the road. There he collided with an oncoming truck.

Immediately after the accident he was assisted by his wife Daniela, who was in one of the trailers together with his son Niccolo. Apparently Zanardi was conscious and approachable, but it was also immediately clear that it was a serious accident and within 20 minutes he was transported by trauma helicopter to the hospital of Siena.

There he was immediately operated on Friday evening for what the doctors described as 'serious head injury'. By ten o'clock Friday evening the operation was successfully completed and Zanardi was in Intensive Care.

Medical report from ten o'clock Saturday morning

Around ten o'clock on Saturday morning, the hospital issued a new statement about his condition: "His condition is still very serious. The haemodynamic and metabolic parameters are stable. He is intubated and is therefore being given artificial respiration. The neurological picture is still very serious." Around half past one the head of the Intensive Care in Siena will come up with a second update.

In the meantime, the 44-year-old truck driver is being investigated by the police. Prosecutor Salvatore Vitello emphasizes according to Il Resto del Carlino that this is standard procedure. As well as collecting evidence, including a video showing the accident. It is now known that the truck driver had no alcohol in his blood at the time of the accident.