Italian racing star Alex Zanardi , who later became a Paralympic gold medalist after surviving devastating injuries, has died at 59. His family confirmed the news Saturday morning, revealing he passed away Friday night and saying in a statement, “Alex died peacefully, surrounded by the affection of those closest to him." No cause of death was disclosed at the time. In 2020, Zanardi suffered severe head and facial injuries when his handbike collided with a truck during a relay event in Tuscany ..