TESTIMONY
On August 14, 2018, the Genoa Bridge in Italy collapsed, taking some motorists with it. 43 people lost their lives. Two years later, Italy is preparing to inaugurate this Monday a new bridge built in just one year. The families of the victims are still waiting for the end of the investigation and for a trial to shed light on the circumstances of this tragedy.
Four young French people who were going to a techno festival are among the victims. "I can't get up, and when August arrives, it's even worse," says Véronique Pouzadoux, whose son, William, died at the age of 22. "43 lives were sacrificed to qualify for a new bridge."
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"Me, I wanted to go to trial"
Véronique Pouzadoux shares the Italians' grief and says she is happy with the inauguration of the new viaduct: "I am not in hatred. I am happy for the Genoese who are going to have a new bridge, and I think that for them it was really very important. "
Yet she describes a difficult situation for her bereaved family. In the aftermath of the tragedy, she gets lost in the proceedings. Unable to fund lawyers, she reluctantly agreed to be compensated. "Me, I wanted to go to trial. And then we were told 'Yes, but it will cost you millions', because it will last a very long time." She can only see her lack of means and choose not to "take [her] family to ruin". "We were forced to accept compensation, but in return, we no longer have the right to participate in the trial."
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Today Véronique Pouzadoux still calls for explanations on this tragedy. "I wish […] he hadn't left for nothing. Even now, I can't believe it: How could something like this happen?"