Family killed in head-on crash on Argentina's notorious 'Route of Death'

A family from Buenos Aires was killed in a violent head-on collision on Argentina's National Route 34, a stretch of road notorious for its frequent and deadly accidents, earning it the grim moniker "Route of Death."

The crash occurred early Sunday morning between the towns of Malbrán and Pinto in the southeastern part of Santiago del Estero province. The accident involved a Chevrolet Classic carrying the family and a Volvo truck loaded with gasoil, which was traveling north from Bolivia. The impact, the causes of which are still under investigation, happened around 2 a.m. near kilometer 470 of the highway.

Following the collision, the truck's gasoil cargo ignited, causing a large fire that required the intervention of three fire department units. Emergency responders arriving at the scene found the car on the shoulder. Inside, two men were discovered; one had already died, while the other showed faint signs of life and was trapped in the wreckage. A woman was found dead about five meters from the vehicle.

Authorities identified the victims as Claudio Sebastián Gutiérrez, Mónica Graciela Gutiérrez, and their 22-year-old son, Josué Gutiérrez, all from Buenos Aires province. Josué was rescued from the car but died shortly after due to his severe injuries. The truck driver, identified as Miguel Montaño, was found about 150 meters from the impact site with critical injuries and was transported to Pinto Hospital, where he remained hospitalized. The route was closed for more than six hours as firefighters worked to contain the blaze and emergency personnel attended to the victims. The prosecutor's office has launched an investigation, and forensic teams are working to determine the circumstances of the crash. Autopsies are scheduled for the victims.