Seven Italian students among 13 Catalonia crash victims (2)

Rome, March 21 - Italy is in shock after Spanish authorities confirmed on Monday that seven female Italian students were among 13 young people killed in Sunday's bus crash in the Catalonia region of Spain. Their names are: Francesca Bonello; Elisa Valent; Valentina Gallo; Elena Maestrini; Lucrezia Borghi; Serena Saracino; Elisa Scarascia Mugnozza. The families have been informed but have not yet identified the bodies, except in the case of Valentina Gallo, sources said. Five Italians are reportedly among 34 injured students who are receiving treatment in hospital. "Heart broken for the Italian victims and for the other young lives destroyed," Premier Matteo Renzi said via his Twitter account. Catalonia is holding two days of mourning on Monday and Tuesday. The bus was taking a group of Erasmus exchange students back to their base in Barcelona after they visited Valencia for the city's famous Fallas festival. The driver appears to have lost control of the bus, possibly after falling asleep at the wheel. The driver is being probed for homicide for "imprudence" behind the wheel, Catalan daily La Vanguardia reported Monday. The 63-year-old man was released after being questioned by regional police, the newspaper said.