Argentina road crash injures teen volleyball star Anita Peralta, kills driver, fuels call for Ruta 88 upgrade

A head‑on collision on Ruta Provincial 88 near kilometre 55 claimed the life of a remis driver from Necochea and left 15‑year‑old volleyball player Anita Peralta Rondanina in critical condition. Anita suffered severe head trauma, respiratory problems and two cardiac arrests, according to her mother Andrea, who said the medical team revived her both times.

Thousands gathered in Necochea and Mar del Plata for a candle‑lit vigil outside the Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos, chanting “¡Fuerza, Anita!” and urging continued prayers for her recovery. The community’s support spread via social media, with neighbors, teammates and local clubs joining the chain of prayer.

The tragedy revived a long‑standing demand to convert the single‑lane Ruta 88 into a dual‑carriageway autovía. Within hours of the crash, a petition on Change.org attracted over 7,000 signatures, urging the Buenos Aires provincial government to accelerate the project, which advocates argue is essential for safety on a heavily used transport corridor linking Mar del Plata, Quequén and Necochea.