A jogger left a haunting last Instagram post before being killed in a freak crash when she was hit head-on by a car.
Athlete Sara Bartoli, 30, had been training in San Casciano in Val di Pesa near Florence, Italy, shortly before sunset on July 27.
But as she ran, a car being driven by a 38-year-old man - not named in local media - drove straight into her.
The man told police he did not see the runner because the glare from the setting sun on his windshield had obscured his view.
He had pulled over immediately and both he and his passenger had tried to help.
But Sara died of multiple injuries before paramedics could get her to hospital.
The last selfie she had posted for her 14,500 Instagram followers a week ago was accompanied by the haunting caption: "Don't be satisfied with a life that is less than what you are capable of living."
Local media reported that this is not the first death on the stretch of road where Sara died.
Ten years ago, 19-year-old Benedetta Mastropietro was killed when her car collided head-on with a bus in the same spot.
The community of Mercatale, the town where Sara spent her life, held her funeral yesterday.
The church and piazza Vittorio Veneto was full with mourners for the popular athlete.
As well as running, Sara also competed in Obstacle Course Race, races on obstacle courses that include wading through mud and water.
Sara’s rhythmic gymnastics club, ASD Il Gabbiano, released a heartfelt statement.
It read: “You grew up in our gym, with passion, perseverance and tenacity, you saw our company born and you were the first to make it known.
“You have been an example for generations of our gymnasts who, looking at you, believed in their dreams and you have chosen to always dedicate yourself to sport and its most beautiful values.
“An immense pain in knowing what has happened, the thought of your family, your brother, your mother and your father: our irreplaceable vice president, founder of the association, and who has always supported and believed in all our projects.
“We are defenceless in the face of this tragedy and unable to understand.
“We can only promise that we will carry on our work with even more determination and passion because you teach many other girls and girls the same love for sport that you have always had.”
