What happened on Route 33
On Friday, August 7, 2026, at kilometer 129 of National Route 33, near the town of Pigüé in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, a serious crash left 11 people hospitalized.
The accident involved a Nissan Frontier pickup truck traveling in one direction and a Citroën Jumper van heading the opposite way. The van was carrying students from the Trenque Lauquen Regional Faculty of the National Technological University (UTN), a well-known public university with campuses across Argentina.
Emergency services mounted a large operation. The route was temporarily closed with detours, and personnel from the V Bahía Blanca Road Operational Zone Department and the Tornquist Highway Police worked at the scene. Traffic has since returned to normal.
The most seriously injured
According to official reports, the two people with the most severe injuries are:
- Gustavo Giusti (33): Driver of the Citroën Jumper van.
- Melany Corti (18): A UTN student.
Both were rushed to Pigüé Hospital along with the other victims.
Minor injuries
Nine other people suffered minor injuries. From the UTN van, the following were identified:
- María Clara Montes (22)
- Ángel Sebastián Piana (20)
- Sandra Florencia Trisiani (21)
- Estéfano Ariel Guichart (19)
- Gonzalo Pereda Tovoloni (33)
- Iván Ignacio Junco (22)
- Axel Gonzalo Bordone (22)
Occupants of the pickup truck
In the other vehicle, the Nissan Frontier, two people also suffered minor injuries:
- Fernando Óscar Conter (59): Driver of the pickup.
- Carlos Horacio Castillo (65): Passenger.
Investigation underway
The exact causes of the crash are still under investigation. Authorities have opened a case for culpable injuries (lesiones culposas), a legal term in Argentina referring to harm caused without intent, typically due to negligence or recklessness. The case is being handled by the Saavedra Fiscal Aid Office and the Pigüé Departmental Security Police Station.
Sources: La Brújula 24, La Nueva and Cambio 2000.