The new information came from an RFI security chief who spoke to prosecutors in Ivrea investigating the deadly incident, according to reports published Wednesday.
The train was travelling at a speed of 157 kilometres per hour.
Reports published by local editions of Corriere della Sera and Repubblica said the employee managing the site updated his WhatsApp status and posted to Facebook four minutes before the tragedy.
Then, at 11:49 p.m., the train hit and killed Kevin Laganà, Michael Zanera, Giuseppe Sorvillo, Giuseppe Aversa and Giuseppe Saverio Lombardo.
The manager, one of two survivors in the incident, is being probed by Ivrea prosecutors on charges of murder due to gross negligence.
The other survivor, a foreman of the team of workers employed by a contractor, is also under investigation.
ANSA
