22/06/2026 22:04 - Judiciales
The afternoon of Monday, June 22, 2026 became a day of mourning for Mar del Plata, Argentina's most famous seaside resort city located about 400 km (250 miles) south of Buenos Aires. In the heart of the city, just meters from the iconic skatepark that attracts young people from across the region, a bus belonging to line 532 mounted the sidewalk and struck several people waiting at the bus stop, triggering a tragedy that shocked the entire community.
An 18-year-old woman lost her life at the scene of the accident. The young woman was waiting for public transportation along with others when the bus went out of control and climbed onto the sidewalk.
Six people were transported to the Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos (HIGA), the region's main public hospital, with injuries of varying severity. Among them is a 15-year-old teenager suffering from facial trauma and an upper limb fracture.
| Patient | Injuries | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| 15-year-old teenager | Facial trauma and upper limb fracture | Stable |
| Adult male | Head trauma, loss of consciousness, and femur fracture | Serious |
| Adult female 1 | Head trauma, loss of consciousness, and scalp laceration | Stable |
| Adult female 2 | Hip fracture | Stable |
| Adult female 3 | Femur fracture | Stable |
| Adult female 4 | Head trauma, loss of consciousness, and pelvis fracture | Stable |
Everything occurred just after 7:00 PM on Monday at Boulevard Patricio Peralta Ramos, between Rivadavia and San Martín streets, facing the skatepark, a highly transited area of Mar del Plata known as "La Perla" neighborhood, famous among tourists and locals alike.
According to preliminary investigations, the bus may have suffered a failure in the power steering or braking system, causing the driver to lose control of the unit and mount the sidewalk, running over people waiting under the bus shelter.
Some victims became trapped beneath the vehicle, requiring a rescue operation with specialized equipment, including hydraulic cutting tools known as "jaws of life."
Authorities deployed a large-scale operation involving multiple forces:
Vehicle traffic heading toward La Perla beach was interrupted while rescue and forensic work was being conducted.
The prosecutor for Negligent Crimes (Delitos Culposos), Germán Vera Tapia, was immediately notified by officers from the Casino sub-police station and ordered initial measures to clarify the incident.
A criminal case was opened under the heading "Negligent Homicide and Negligent Injuries". The bus driver remains detained while mechanical inspections are carried out to determine whether there was indeed a vehicle failure.
Next medical report: The Buenos Aires Province Ministry of Health will inform about the evolution of the injured on Tuesday, June 23 at 9:30 AM.
Mar del Plata is Argentina's most important seaside resort city, commonly called "La Feliz" (The Happy One). Located on the Atlantic Ocean coast, it attracts millions of tourists each summer (December-February in the Southern Hemisphere). The city has an efficient public transportation system with numerous bus lines connecting different neighborhoods and beaches.
The skatepark mentioned in this tragedy is a popular youth gathering spot, making the location particularly busy during afternoons when people return from work or beach activities.
Sources consulted: Newspaper La Capital of Mar del Plata and news portal 0223.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
