The young Eritrean migrant was struck and killed by a car on a highway in the early morning hours on Friday, according to reports from news agencies AP, ANSA and local Italian media. According to ANSA, the man was just 20 years old. He was reportedly part of a group of roughly 20 migrants who were trying to flee the "Villa Sikania" residence for asylum seekers. All others were reportedly caught and brought back to the center. 

Three police officers who were trying to catch the migrant were also injured; none of the injuries appear to be life-threating, though one officer reportedly fractured a leg and required surgery.

The driver of the car was arrested and is being investigated for vehicular homicide. The 34-year-old man did not stop the car to help after the accident, according to ANSA.

Why were the migrants running away?

During the day on Thursday, migrants at the "Villa Silkania" center had staged a protest against overcrowding and bad living conditions at the residence in Siculiana, near the tourist town of Agrigento. Several migrants climbed up on the roof of the building.

MIgrants climbed on the roof of the "Villa Sikania" center during a protest in September 4, 2020 | Photo: picture-alliance

In the southern Italian region of Sicily, several hosting centers for migrants and refugees are severly overcrowded -- which means that migrants can't socially distance themselves from others, one of the main precautions against the spread of the coronavirus. Protests against overcrowding have erupted at several facilities in recent months.

Recent numbers show that migrant sea arrivals -- which mostly take place in southern Italian regions like Sicily -- have increased significantly over the past year.