Fatal Crash on Route 60
A devastating accident occurred on Sunday, August 16, at approximately 8:30 PM on Provincial Route 60, near Piperbo alley in Fray Luis Beltrán, Maipú, a department in the province of Mendoza, Argentina. The collision involved a Volkswagen T-Cross and a Peugeot 504, resulting in three fatalities and three injured individuals. The impact was so severe that it left the entire community in shock.
The T-Cross, traveling west, attempted to overtake another vehicle and collided head-on with the Peugeot, which was entering the road from a public alley. All six occupants of both vehicles sustained injuries of varying severity.
The Victims
The first victim was Oscar Aníbal 'Chacha' Fernández Mercau, 48, the driver of the Peugeot. A well-known amateur football referee from Tres Porteñas, San Martín, he died while being transported to Central Hospital. He had officiated a match just hours before the crash.
The other two victims were sisters Juana Masó Tillar, 20, and Rosario Masó Tillar, 19, who were passengers in the T-Cross. Juana passed away at 5:44 PM on Monday due to cardiorespiratory arrest in intensive care. Rosario, who had undergone surgery, suffered brain death and was pronounced dead around 8:00 PM the same day.
The Injured and a Weapon Discovery
Also in the T-Cross were Martín Omar Tillar (52), the driver and uncle of the sisters, who remains in serious condition at Lagomaggiore Hospital; Ariadna Tillar (54), the mother of the sisters, with fractures to her tibia, fibula, and jaw, hospitalized at Perrupato Hospital; and Florencia Bettalemmi (42), with severe head trauma, at El Carmen Hospital.
During the investigation, police found a Bersa Thunder .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol inside the Peugeot. It was seized and placed at the disposal of the judiciary. The case is being investigated as negligent homicide by the Fiscal Office of Maipú.
Community Mourning and Educational Ties
The Masó Tillar sisters were graduates of Colegio San Luis Gonzaga in Mendoza, which expressed its grief on social media: 'With deep sorrow we accompany the family and friends of Juana and Rosario Masó, former students of our school. We join in prayer and closeness to their family and the 2023 and 2025 graduating classes.'
Rosario was studying Psychology at the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), Mendoza campus, which also issued condolences. Juana was pursuing Industrial Engineering at the University of Mendoza. Both lived in Chacras de Coria, Luján de Cuyo.
The investigation continues to determine the exact circumstances of the crash. Experts are analyzing evidence and gathering testimonies to reconstruct the moments before the impact. The entire province of Mendoza, known for its wine production and stunning Andes landscapes, is in mourning over this tragic loss.