Student killed by train while chasing three men who stole her designer purse

A young woman with a promising future was killed while chasing robbers who stole her designer purse. 20-year-old Zhang Yao of China, who was an aspiring fashion designer, went to live in Italy, so she can attend Rome's Academy of the Fine Arts. One day, while Yao was on her way to renew her visa in Tor Sapienza, she was robbed by three men. They stole her $1,000 designer purse. Yao called her friend, who was also her roommate, and told her that she was running after the thieves. Her friend tried to discourage her, but Yao wanted her documents back. The friend called police after Yao did not answer her phone and she went missing.

Surveillance videos in the area showed that Yao was hit by a train while she was talking on the phone. She was hit by another train and she landed in a ditch. About 200 mourners commemorated the student as they laid flowers outside the train station.