Following a Jan. 12 collision in Pinamar, Argentina, 8-year-old Bastian has regained consciousness after three weeks in intensive care, his mother announced via social media. The boy sustained critical injuries when the UTV he was traveling in was struck by a pickup truck, prompting seven surgeries at the Victorio Tetamanti Maternal and Child Hospital in Mar del Plata. The case has sparked widespread concern in Argentina, raising questions about road safety and the role of impaired driving; authorities have since suspended the licenses of both drivers involved after thay tested positive for alcohol [[1,2,3]].
An 8-year-old boy injured in a collision between a UTV and a pickup truck in Pinamar, Argentina, has regained consciousness after three weeks in intensive care, his mother announced on social media. The boy, identified as Bastian, is reportedly responding to his family and showing signs of recognition.
“Basti woke up, he recognized us, gave us many smiles and even a few angry faces,” Macarena Collantes shared in a post on Instagram. “I love you, son, we are so proud of you.”
The boy’s mother shared the news of his awakening on Instagram. (Photo: Instagram/macarenacollantess)
Bastian has been hospitalized since the Jan. 12 crash, which occurred in the coastal resort town of Pinamar. He underwent seven surgeries at the Victorio Tetamanti Maternal and Child Hospital in Mar del Plata, according to reports. The case has drawn significant attention in Argentina, highlighting concerns about road safety and drunk driving.
On Monday, doctors performed Bastian’s seventh surgery, replacing an external drainage valve with a ventriculopleural shunt to optimize fluid drainage, according to a medical report accessed by TN. The surgery was deemed “satisfactory.” He has also been receiving mechanical respiratory support and remains stable, with medical teams continuously monitoring his condition.
“Thank you, God. Son, I never doubted your greatness and your strength. You’ve made me the happiest mom in the world,” Collantes continued in her social media post. “Let’s keep praying for Basti, thank you to everyone.”
Details of the Crash
The accident involved a UTV and a pickup truck in the dune area of La Frontera, Pinamar. Bastian was initially treated at a local hospital before being airlifted to Mar del Plata due to the severity of his injuries.
The collision involved a UTV and a pickup truck. (Photos: captura TN)
Driving Privileges Suspended
The Buenos Aires Province Ministry of Transportation has suspended the driving privileges of both drivers involved in the crash after they tested positive for alcohol. The suspensions apply to Noemí Quirós, who was driving the UTV, and Manuel Molinari, the driver of the Volkswagen Amarok.
Officials stated the decision was based on reckless maneuvers that posed a concrete risk to others. According to a resolution, such behavior “represents a current and legally relevant risk to road safety and people’s lives.”
Bastian has undergone seven surgeries since the accident and remains hospitalized. (Photo: Facebook Bettiana Delfina)
Subsequent toxicology reports confirmed that both drivers had alcohol in their systems at the time of the crash. Quirós registered a blood alcohol content of 0.41 grams per liter, while Molinari’s was 0.25. Both levels exceed the legal limit in Buenos Aires Province, which is zero.
