Tragedy on the highway: two River fans who had gone to Córdoba to see the match against Talleres died

Fatal crash on the Córdoba-Rosario highway: two River Plate fans who were returning from watching the Copa Libertadores match died

A fatal road accident occurred early Thursday morning on the Córdoba-Rosario highway, where a car carrying three River Plate fans, who were returning from the capital of Córdoba to the city of Buenos Aires after watching the Copa Libertadores match against Talleres, collided with the back of a truck and became wedged under the trailer. Two of the occupants died on the spot, while the other, son of one of the deceased, is hospitalized but out of danger.

Police sources consulted by Infobae stated that the crash occurred at kilometer 357 of the Córdoba-Rosario highway, right at the intersection with route 91, between Cañada de Gómez and Correa. There, for reasons that are under investigation, the driver of a black Peugeot 308 lost control of the vehicle and ended up embedded under the load that the truck was carrying.

During an exhaustive operation, the authorities confirmed that the two occupants who were travelling in the front seat died on the spot, while the Firefighters rescued a 19-year-old man who was in the back seat. The latter was urgently taken to the San José de Cañada de Gómez hospital.

Pablo Bermúdez, deputy chief of the Cañada de Gómez Volunteer Fire Department, confirmed to this media that the survivor suffered fractures in some of his vertebrae but his life “is not in danger.”

The two occupants travelling in the front of the Peugeot 308 died instantly.

Due to the complications in extracting the victims from the passenger compartment, as the vehicle’s irons had become twisted, the rescuers proceeded to cut the roof of the vehicle with shears, and then extract the victims.

The fatal victims were identified as Enrique Rubio -the driver-, 57 years old, and Fabián Dines, 68.

The truck driver suffered minor injuries as a result of the impact and was taken to the local health center.

The reasons why the driver of the Peugeot 308 lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the rear of the truck are unknown.

Speaking to Cadena 3, Bermúdez said that the private car hit the truck and it was a “rear-end collision.” He explained: “Both vehicles were traveling in the same direction, but the Peugeot was traveling at a higher speed and ended up hitting the truck.”

Bermúdez also said that after the impact a fire started, which was put out by other motorists who stopped to help those involved. “The engine section had started to catch fire due to the fuel spill and the friction during the 300 or 400 meters that the vehicle was dragged by the truck until it was able to stop,” he explained.

Following a major operation in the area, during which agents from the Santa Fe Investigative Police (PDI) carried out the necessary investigations, the road was cleared after 11 a.m., according to a statement from the Provincial Road Safety Agency on its social media.

Today at noon, Club Atlético River Plate published a message on its official social media to pay tribute to the two deceased fans, and to express solidarity with the families of both. “We deeply regret the death of Fabián Dines and Enrique Rubio, River fans who suffered a traffic accident when they were returning from Córdoba after last night’s match. The Club supports their family and friends in this sad moment,” says the statement.

The message from Club Atlético River Plate.

Yesterday, prior to the cup match between Talleres de Córdoba and River Plate, the Córdoba Police arrested 77 supporters of the visiting team for carrying knives, drugs and alcohol on the buses heading to the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium.

The procedure was carried out around midday on Wednesday on National Route No. 9, just a few meters from the toll booth in the town of Toledo, when some 26 long-distance buses were heading towards the capital of Córdoba. In this way, some 1,500 fans were checked, with the intention of preventing the transport of prohibited objects at mass events.

Some 75 people were allowed to attend sporting events (Photos: Córdoba Police)

Police sources indicated that a large quantity of alcoholic beverages, doses of marijuana and cocaine, knives and other types of sharp objects were seized during the operation promoted by the Safe Tribune Program. In addition, they confirmed that 75 detainees had previous records, so they were granted the right of admission when entering sporting events.

Agents from Capital Security, the Highway Police, Special Units, the Territorial and Proximity Police, Firefighters, Departmental North and South, the Anti-Drug Police Force (FPA), the National Gendarmerie, and the National Directorate of Security in Sports Events participated in the tasks.