Two sisters have died after a devastating head-on crash with a well-known amateur football referee.
The collision happened on Provincial Route 60 in Maipu, Mendoza Province, western Argentina, at around 8.30pm on 16th August.
Juana Maso Tillar, 20, and her younger sister Rosario, 19, were travelling in a Volkswagen T-Cross with three relatives when it smashed into a Peugeot 504.
Oscar Anibal "Chacha" Fernandez Mercau, 48, was driving the Peugeot alone and died while being rushed to hospital after suffering critical injuries.
Oscar was a respected amateur football referee from Tres Portenas, in the San Martin area of Mendoza, and regularly officiated matches across the province's eastern region.
He had reportedly refereed a match just hours before the fatal crash.
According to a witness, the Volkswagen was travelling west along Route 60 when it attempted to overtake another vehicle.
The T-Cross then collided head-on with the Peugeot, which was entering the route from a public side road and turning east, according to information released by the Ministry of Security and Justice.
The violent impact left people in both vehicles with injuries of varying severity and triggered a major emergency response involving traffic police, firefighters, medical teams and forensic officers.
Rosario was initially taken to Perrupato Hospital in San Martin before doctors decided she needed specialist treatment at Mendoza Central Hospital.
She was transferred by the Halcon III emergency helicopter because of the seriousness of her injuries.
Juana was taken to the same hospital by ambulance, with both sisters eventually being admitted to intensive care.
Juana suffered a cardiac arrest at 5.44pm on Monday and doctors were unable to save her.
Rosario, who had suffered multiple severe injuries and undergone surgery, was later declared brain dead before her death was confirmed at around 8pm.
The sisters had lived in Chacras de Coria, in Lujan de Cuyo, and were originally from nearby Carrodilla.
Juana was studying industrial engineering at the University of Mendoza, while Rosario was studying psychology at the Catholic University of Argentina's Mendoza campus.
The university paid tribute to Rosario, saying: “We accompany the family and friends of Rosario Maso Tillar, a student of Psychology in our Faculty, who has physically left us.”
The statement read: “We raise our prayers in the face of such profound pain and ask for her eternal rest."
Their former school, San Luis Gonzaga School in Mendoza, also issued a tribute to both sisters.
It said: "With profound sadness, we accompany the family and friends of Juana and Rosario Masó, former students of our school.
"We join in prayer and stand close to their family and the entire 2023 and 2025 graduating classes."
Rosario's close friend also shared an emotional farewell online, writing: "I never thought I would have to say goodbye to you.
"You were and always will be my best friend and my companion. I learned from you what true friendship was and I will always be grateful that I was lucky enough to share my life with you."
She continued: “You were the sister I never had, but always wanted. We talked every day until late, told each other everything and shared our lives.
"You taught me how beautiful friendship can be. You taught me everything except how to let you go.
"I will love and remember you always. You will always be a huge part of my heart."
Three other relatives travelling in the Volkswagen remained in hospital.
Driver Martin Omar Tillar, 52, suffered multiple injuries and was in a serious condition at Lagomaggiore Hospital.
Ariadna Tillar, 54, suffered fractures to her tibia, fibula and lower jaw and remained in intensive care at Perrupato Hospital.
Florencia Bettalemmi, 42, suffered a severe head injury with loss of consciousness and remained in intensive care at El Carmen Hospital.
Investigators also recovered a Bersa Thunder .22-calibre semi-automatic pistol from inside the Peugeot, which was seized for forensic examination.
Traffic prosecutor Mariana Gutierrez was investigating the crash, with police and specialist experts working to establish exactly what caused the fatal collision.
(Marija Stojkoska/Newsflash)
