Stolen phone recovered after Mar del Plata bus crash that killed one and injured several

Investigators in Mar del Plata have recovered a mobile phone stolen from a victim of a recent bus accident that tragically claimed the life of an 18-year-old woman. The phone belonged to a 15-year-old boy who remains hospitalized with severe injuries, including a fractured arm and skull damage.

The incident occurred when a bus veered off its designated lane and onto a sidewalk where pedestrians were waiting. The boy's family reported that after the accident, an unknown individual approached him while he was seeking help, used his phone to contact his mother about the crash, and then disappeared with the device. The boy had reportedly provided the phone's unlock code to the supposed helper.

Following a social media post by the boy's cousin and a formal complaint, prosecutors launched an investigation. Police personnel tracked the phone and arranged an undercover operation, posing as buyers for the stolen iPhone, which was listed for 150,000 pesos. During the sting operation, a 20-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man were arrested.

However, the arrested individuals do not appear to be the person who originally stole the phone from the injured teenager. Surveillance footage from the accident scene provided images of the actual thief, described as being between 17 and 20 years old, who is still being sought by authorities. The investigation also revealed that some of the boy's clothing, including his shoes, were missing, though it is unclear if the same person took them.

The accident happened on the 22nd of the month, shortly after 7 p.m., near the intersection of Boulevard Marítimo with Rivadavia and San Martín streets. The bus, operating on line 532, deviated from its route and struck several people waiting at bus stops. Of the six other individuals who sustained serious injuries, three are in intensive care with guarded prognoses, while three others are showing signs of recovery.