A month after illegal 4x4 entry, vehicle still sits in Pampa del Leoncito, leaving deep tracks

A 4x4 remains stranded in Argentina’s Pampa del Leoncito a month after illegally driving about 1.5 kilometers through the protected area. The tire tracks, some as deep as 25 centimeters, are still visible despite recent rain.

The vehicle belongs to Agustín Añó, a 46-year-old doctor from Mendoza who drove a Toyota Hilux into the area, which lies at an altitude of 1,500 meters. Specialists say the damage to the surface could take around 80 years to reverse.

Calingasta Mayor Sebastián Carbajal filed a complaint after the environmental damage was confirmed. Añó appeared voluntarily before Justice of the Peace Andrés Troche and said he did not know that driving was prohibited. He described the incident as an unforeseen event caused by darkness and the condition of the terrain.

The Hilux remains under National Gendarmerie custody to prevent an improvised removal or further damage to the clay surface. Authorities are assessing when and how to extract it, considering options that range from waiting for the ground to consolidate to complex aerial operations. The legal case will determine the driver’s sanction.

Carbajal said aggravated damage or ecocide should be considered, which could carry a prison sentence. The case is currently before misdemeanor courts, where penalties could include community service or a fine of about 1 million pesos. The driver is expected to cover the cost of removing the vehicle.