A tragic incident occurred in Buenos Aires when a taxi driver, experiencing a collapse behind the wheel, collided with pedestrians in a busy residential district. The collision left one person dead and others injured, though initial reports suggested the remaining victims were not in immediate danger.
Three young French women had arrived in the Argentine capital 90 days earlier as part of an exchange program with the Universidad de San Andrés. Last Saturday at midday, in the Palermo neighborhood near the Botanical Garden, the intersection of Santa Fe Avenue and Armenia Street became the scene of a frightening crash. A Volkswagen Voyage struck five pedestrians, and among those hit were the French students who were hospitalized for their injuries while others escaped with minor harm.
Footage circulated shortly after the event showing the taxi driver speaking with a bystander who witnessed the hit-and-run and reported the incident. The driver appeared stunned, asking what had happened and expressing disbelief that the accident could have occurred. He lowered his head, visibly shaken, as bystanders tended to the injured on the asphalt.
Lvana Bichet, a 25-year-old French student, suffered a cardiac arrest and respiratory failure in the operating room at Fernández Hospital, where a skull fracture was also identified as a result of the impact. Her friends Clemence Rameau and Celie Dumas, both 23, survived the crash. Rameau sustained some bruising but remained conscious, while Dumas endured a more serious injury pattern including a head injury and a pelvis fracture, requiring ongoing care as she stabilized in hospital.
According to official briefings, the driver experienced an acute myocardial infarction during the incident and required mechanical ventilation as doctors managed aspiration pneumonia. Authorities continue to review the circumstances surrounding the collapse to determine if any prior health issues played a role or if there were lapses in medical attention or safety protocols that may have contributed to the events. Inquiries are ongoing as investigators seek a full understanding of the sequence of actions and the condition of the driver before the crash.
Officials have emphasized the importance of rapid emergency response and clear reporting in such emergencies. The ongoing investigation aims to clarify whether any factors such as untreated medical conditions or other preventable risks may have influenced the accident, while families and the university community await further updates on the students’ recovery and the motorist’s health status.