Florence, February 10, 2026 – A 28-year-old man died today when his motorcycle collided with a wild boar on a rural road in Tuscany, highlighting a growing safety concern as the region’s wild boar population surges.
Motorcyclist Killed in Collision with Wild Boar
The incident underscores the increasing danger posed by the expanding wild boar population in the Mugello area.
- Leonardo Guddemi, 28, of Vaiano, died in the crash.
- The accident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Provincial Road 37 near Barberino di Mugello.
- Officials are calling for more comprehensive measures to manage the growing wild boar population.
Leonardo Guddemi was riding his motorcycle on Provincial Road 37, which connects Bilancino to Galliano, when a wild boar unexpectedly crossed his path. The impact threw Guddemi from the motorcycle, sending him tumbling approximately six feet, according to initial reports. Emergency services were alerted around 11:30 a.m.
Firefighters from the Florence command, along with medical personnel, responded to the scene. Despite their efforts to revive Guddemi, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Carabinieri and local police are investigating the incident. A rescue helicopter was initially dispatched but later stood down.
Another Accident in Mugello
A separate incident occurred today in Barberino di Mugello involving an overturned concrete mixer following a collision with another heavy vehicle on Via Cornocchio. Firefighters were needed to extricate the driver.
Similar Tragedy Last Year
This isn’t the first time a motorcyclist has been killed by a wild boar in the Mugello region. In February 2023, Emanuele Diamanti, 47, of Scarperia, died after his scooter struck a wild boar on the Bolognese state road. He was on his way home from work when the collision occurred. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate Diamanti, but were unsuccessful.
The overpopulation of wild boars is a problem that concerns public safety.
Ritano Baragli, vice president of Fedagripesca Confcooperative Toscana, stated that Guddemi’s death “cannot be dismissed as a tragic fatality: it is the result of a structural problem that we have been denouncing for some time.” He explained that the wild boar population has become “a stable and rooted reality” in the region, and that the issue is no longer just about crop damage, but about the safety of people, particularly those on two wheels. Baragli emphasized that current measures, like fencing, are insufficient and called for “structural, coordinated interventions.”
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