An actress and TV presenter was killed when a train ploughed into her car at a level crossing.
CCTV footage shows the driver proceeding onto the tracks despite the barrier being down.
Before she could clear the crossing, a train sped in and struck the Honda City on the driver’s side.
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The impact pushed the car along the rails for a short distance before it was run over on Friday (26 June) evening.
Ernestina Pais, who was at the wheel, suffered a severe head injury.
A local man, Carlos, told local media: “I was inside when I heard the crash.
“We ran over to see what had happened and whether we could help. We couldn’t do anything because the doors wouldn’t open – they were completely jammed.
“We spoke to her, and there was also a woman shouting and asking if she was okay, but she never answered.”
An autopsy later confirmed that Ernestina died instantly from the impact in San Isidro, Argentina.
According to the preliminary report, the 54-year-old, who had been driving with a suspended licence, died from severe traumatic brain injuries.
Her licence had been suspended after she crashed into an Alfa Romeo in Vicente López and refused to take a breathalyser test in March this year.
She had also accumulated multiple speeding offences across Buenos Aires and Buenos Aires Province, with fines totalling around 2.5m ARS (£1,280).
Ernestina was admitted to a rehabilitation clinic in March 2024 following a court order for alcoholism, as reported by Need To Know.
She had been writing a book, scheduled for release in 2027, covering her six-and-a-half-month stay in rehab.
She was due to perform in the play “El divorcio del año” at a theatre in Tigre on the night of the crash.
Her funeral, held yesterday (28 June), was attended by her sister, TV presenter Federica Pais; their mother, Milka Truol; and her 22-year-old son, Benicio.
In a post, Benicio wrote: “There are moments that my mind will never forget: your constant, affectionate ‘I love yous’ will always stay close to me.
“I don’t think there was a single day when I didn’t hear, in that unmistakable voice of yours, ‘I love you, son’.”
He added: “People I don’t even know have written to tell me that the laughter and the wonderful moments you gave them will stay with them forever. Your impact was real.”
