Signorelli had told Italian media he was trying to help the woman when he noticed the driver trying to run away.
He said he gave chase and the attacker turned on him with a knife in hand. He received a blow to the head and one on his chest before being able to restrain the suspect, with the help of other passers-by.
At a news conference on Saturday evening, the prefect of Modena Fabrizia Triolo said the suspect had been referred to a mental health centre in 2022 for “schizoid disorders”, but had then “disappeared without a trace”.
An eyewitness said: “We saw the car approaching, it was heading for the kerb.
“It suddenly accelerated – it was going at least 100km/h (62mph).”
“We saw people flying,” the witness told Italian media.
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