Tragedy on the A31: A truck hits two construction workers, killing one and seriously injuring another.

A dramatic accident struck the A31 Valdastico motorway in the early afternoon of Tuesday, December 2nd, between Noventa Vicentina and Agugliaro. Shortly after 1:00 PM, a truck struck two workers working on a road construction site. The impact was extremely violent: Nazario Pontellato, 61, died instantly, while his 40-year-old colleague was airlifted to the San Bortolo Hospital in Vicenza in critical condition.

The dynamics of the accident

According to investigators' initial reconstruction, the two workers were completing the removal of road signs following some interventions involving highway video surveillance. The construction site was properly marked, but the heavy vehicle—for reasons yet to be determined—suddenly swerved, entering the work area. The truck driver, in shock, immediately alerted emergency services along with several passing motorists.

Rescue operations and highway closure

The Suem 118 emergency medical service responded quickly, but despite their best efforts, there was nothing they could do for Pontellato. His injured colleague was stabilized on site and then rushed by air ambulance from Verona. The highway was temporarily closed between Noventa Vicentina and Agugliaro, heading towards Piovene Rocchette, to allow for rescue operations, securing the area, and conducting legal investigations.

The workers involved

The life of Nazario Pontellato, 61, a recent resident of Villamarzana, was cut short in a matter of moments. He was an experienced laborer, engaged in maintenance and technical support work on highway construction sites. He leaves behind a family and a community deeply shaken by the news, while his colleagues and managers at the company he worked for expressed their condolences and disbelief at the sudden tragedy.

The second worker, a forty-year-old, is now hospitalized in critical condition in the intensive care unit at San Bortolo Hospital. Doctors are maintaining a guarded prognosis. The force of the impact caused multiple injuries, and his condition remains extremely delicate.

Investigations by the Highway Police and Spisal

Two Highway Patrol cars, firefighters, and Spisal technicians responded to the scene of the accident, as required in cases of fatal accidents at work. Investigators are gathering witness statements, recordings, and surveys to precisely reconstruct the trajectory of the heavy vehicle and determine any possible culprits. At this time, no possible causes have been ruled out: accidental skidding, driver illness, or distraction.

A regularly reported construction site

Initial investigations indicate that the construction site was set up in compliance with safety regulations and adequately marked along the roadway. This makes it even more difficult to understand how the vehicle could have lost control and hit the work area, confirming that workers on the road are still exposed to high risks even in apparently safe conditions.

Reactions from the trade union and political world

The tragedy sparked immediate reactions. Roberto Toigo, the general secretary of Uil Veneto, emphasized the urgent need for a change in worker protection, denouncing how indifference and resignation are the primary enemies of safety. Italia Viva Senator Daniela Sbrollini also drew attention to the dangers of road construction sites, noting that safety is a priority, as reiterated by the President of the Republic.

The unresolved issue of workplace safety

The A31 accident adds to a long series of incidents involving road construction workers throughout 2025. Even when procedures are followed, those working along traffic arteries remain vulnerable to drivers' behavior. The Noventa Vicentina tragedy thus reopens a wound that has never healed and forcefully rekindles the debate on the need for more effective measures to prevent accidents that continue to cost lives.