A French father driving along the Brenner Pass in Italy left his two young daughters behind at a motorway service station after believing they were asleep in the back seat, according to local reports. The two sisters, aged 8 and 10, were noticed by service station staff who alerted highway patrol officers after realizing the children were stranded and unable to speak Italian.
The Timeline of the Motorway Separation
After returning to his vehicle, the driver resumed his journey toward the border, convinced the children were resting quietly in the rear. It was not until law enforcement contacted him via a telephone number provided by the children that the father realized he had traveled without them. Upon receiving the call, the driver immediately turned his vehicle around and drove back to the service station.
Intervention by Service Station Staff and Highway Patrol
Staff members at the Paganella Est location quickly identified the stranded children. Because the young girls could not communicate in Italian, workers immediately contacted the traffic police subdivision in Trento. A patrol unit was dispatched to the scene. The children’s mother, who was also vacationing in Italy, arrived at the motorway facility shortly after to collect them.
Custody Arrangement and Legal Follow-Up
Records and local reports indicate that the parents are separated and share joint custody of the children, with the father holding custody responsibility during those days of the holiday. While the incident concluded safely without physical harm to the minors, authorities have escalated the case.
Next Steps and Official Review
The Juvenile Court of Trento will review the reports to decide on subsequent legal measures regarding the father’s temporary lapse in oversight. No further statements have been released by judicial authorities pending the evaluation.
