A Heartbreaking Sequence of Events
A tragedy that shook the Argentine province of La Pampa took an even more devastating turn with the death of Julio Manuel Vissani, known affectionately as "Cachi", aged 66. He passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 due to a terminal illness he had been battling.
His death occurred barely 24 hours after his ex-wife, Olga Sosa (66), drowned alongside her three sisters in a tragic vehicle accident at Bajo Giuliani, a low-lying area prone to flooding near the intersection of Route 14 and National Route 35.
Family Impact
The couple's children lost both parents within hours of each other, causing profound commotion in the small community of Colonia 25 de Mayo, a rural town in western La Pampa province where the sisters were originally from.
The Fatal Accident
On Monday, June 22, 2025, around 7:00 PM, the four sisters were traveling in a Ford EcoSport through the intersection of Provincial Route 14 and National Route 35, heading toward Santa Rosa (the provincial capital) to visit a relative recovering from surgery.
In an area with poor lighting, the vehicle failed to stop at the intersection and fell into a lagoon formed in the Bajo Giuliani area. The four sisters who perished were:
- Cristina Sosa (60), recently retired from Jorge Ahuad Hospital.
- Esmeralda Raquel Sosa (56), general services worker at the same hospital.
- Olga Sosa (66), Julio Vissani's ex-wife.
- Estela Sosa (53).
The sole survivor was Dominga Sosa (49), who was driving the vehicle and managed to escape. She is currently in shock.
Investigation Underway
Prosecutor Cecilia Martini from the Crimes Against Persons Office has ordered forensic examinations to determine the accident's cause. Authorities are analyzing:
Factors Under Analysis
- Insufficient lighting at the intersection
- T-shaped intersection configuration
- Potential mechanical failures
Rescue Operation
- Police divers participated in the rescue
- Vehicle was almost completely submerged
- Last body recovered Tuesday at 9:30 AM
Previous Family Tragedy
This is not the first tragedy to strike the Sosa family on regional highways. Approximately 18 months ago, the family lost five other members in a violent collision on National Route 151, under circumstances of extreme road violence.
The community of Colonia 25 de Mayo, where the sisters were well-known, is observing a local day of mourning. The victims' remains are being waked at the town's Community Center (SUM).
Scheduled Funerals
| Deceased | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Julio Manuel Vissani | Wednesday 25/06 at 11:00 AM | Centenario Cemetery, Neuquén Province |
| Olga Sosa | To be confirmed | Municipal Cemetery, Colonia 25 de Mayo |
Reactions from Jorge Ahuad Hospital
The director of Jorge Ahuad Hospital, María Elsa Barrionuevo, expressed the institution's grief: "As part of this community, I struggle to find words for a tragedy of this magnitude."
About Cristina Sosa, she recalled: "You had been retired for less than a year. How hard it was for you to leave!". About Raquel, she added: "Could anyone have been kinder than you? Your hugs meant so much to me."
Geographic Context
La Pampa is a sparsely populated province in central Argentina. The Bajo Giuliani is a low-lying area prone to forming water pools after rainfall. The intersection of Provincial Route 14 and National Route 35 has been identified as a hazardous point due to poor signage and lighting, according to local residents.
