Mendoza province is in mourning. Rosario (19) and Juana (20) Masó Tillar, two university students, passed away on Monday after a violent crash on Sunday night. The accident on Route 60 in Maipú has now claimed three lives, including a beloved amateur soccer referee, leaving families and communities devastated.

The province of Mendoza, Argentina, is grieving after a tragic head-on collision on Route 60 claimed the lives of three people. On Monday, August 18, two sisters—Rosario (19) and Juana (20) Masó Tillar—died from injuries sustained in the crash that occurred on Sunday night in the Maipú department. Their deaths bring the toll to three, following the passing of Oscar Aníbal 'Chacha' Fernández Mercau, a 48-year-old amateur soccer referee who died at the scene.

Who Were the Masó Tillar Sisters?

The young women, originally from Luján de Cuyo, were promising university students. Rosario was studying Psychology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina (UCA) in Mendoza, while Juana pursued Industrial Engineering at the University of Mendoza. Both were alumnae of the San Luis Gonzaga School, which expressed deep sorrow on social media: 'With profound pain we accompany the family and friends of Juana and Rosario Masó, former students of our school.'

Institutional Mourning: The UCA posted: 'We accompany the family and friends of Rosario Masó Tillar, a Psychology student of our Faculty, who left us physically.' The University of Mendoza also extended condolences for Juana, an Industrial Engineering student.

The Crash on Route 60

The accident occurred around 8:30 PM on Sunday at the intersection of Provincial Route 60 and Callejón Piperbo, near Fray Luis Beltrán in Maipú. According to initial reports, a Volkswagen T-Cross carrying the Tillar family was heading west when it attempted to overtake and collided head-on with a Peugeot 504 driven by Fernández Mercau.

The SUV's driver, Martín Omar Tillar (52), the sisters' uncle, was hospitalized at Lagomaggiore Hospital with multiple trauma and a reserved prognosis. Also in the vehicle were Florencia Bettalemmi (42), his partner, who suffered a severe head injury and is at El Carmen Hospital, and Ariadna Tillar (54), the sisters' mother, who remains at Perrupato Hospital with fractures.

A Beloved Referee Lost

Oscar Fernández Mercau, from Tres Porteñas in the San Martín department, was a well-known figure in amateur soccer. He had refereed a match hours before the accident. Rescuers pulled him from the Peugeot in critical condition, but he died en route to the Central Hospital due to the severity of his injuries.

Investigation Ongoing

Prosecutor Mariana Gutiérrez, specialized in traffic cases, is leading the investigation to determine responsibility. Pericias (accident reconstruction) and testimony from survivors will help clarify the crash's dynamics. The case is classified as homicidio culposo (negligent homicide).

Notable detail: During rescue operations, a Bersa Thunder .22 caliber pistol was found inside the Peugeot 504. Authorities are investigating this finding, though it appears unrelated to the crash.

The tragedy has deeply affected the local community, with tributes pouring in for the three victims. As the investigation proceeds, families and friends are left to cope with the sudden loss of two vibrant young women and a respected referee.