Young referee, 24, dies after crashing into tree in Argentina

The local football community in Tres Arroyos, Argentina, mourns the tragic death of 24-year-old referee Maite Otaegui. She died on Tuesday following a car accident in the city.

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Maite Otaegui, the 24-year-old referee who died in a car accident in Tres Arroyos

Otaegui was a passenger in a Chevrolet Astra driven by her partner. The vehicle reportedly grazed a parked soda delivery truck, causing the driver to lose control. The car then veered off the road, spun, and crashed into a tree on the central median.

Images from the scene showed significant damage to the passenger side of the car where Otaegui was seated. Both occupants were rushed to the Municipal Hospital. While her partner sustained minor injuries, Otaegui succumbed to her severe wounds shortly after arrival.

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In a car accident that occurred in the urban area of the city, Maite Otaegui passed away this morning. She was currently officiating as a main referee in the First and Second Divisions, and last weekend she officiated the match ACDC vs. UNION and was assistant No. 1 in the match OLIMPO vs. ECHEGOYEN.

Otaegui had been refereeing in the Regional Tresarroyense Football League since 2019. She had also recently qualified as a nurse. The league praised her "vocation and skills" as a referee, noting she had officiated matches in the First and Second Divisions. Several local clubs canceled their events to honor her memory, with some highlighting her connection to their club as both a referee and a former nurse.

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From the Regional Tresarroyense League, we send our most sincere condolences to her family and teammates.