A Falling Dog Killed 3 People in Buenos Aires

On October 21, 1988, an ordinary morning in Buenos Aires, Argentina, would transform into a tragedy that defies belief. A small poodle fell from an apartment building on the 13th floor, killing a 75-year-old woman passing by on the sidewalk. Moments later, another woman lost her life in an accident involving a bus, and a male bystander reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest while being taken to the hospital. Four lives, including the dog’s, were lost in the bizarre chain of events following one unfortunate fall.

This tragedy highlights the potential risk of crowded streets and one fatal incident that triggered several unforeseen occurrences.

The Fall That Changed an Ordinary Morning

The incident happened at the intersection of Avenida Rivadavia and Morelos Street in Caballito, a neighbourhood in the capital of Argentina. The dog, whose name in various sources is spelt Cachi or Cachy, fell from the 13 th floor of an apartment building belonging to the Montoya family.

On the sidewalk below, Marta Fortunata Espina, a local 75-year-old women went for her morning walk, having gone out to do some shopping. She had no idea that a pet falling from an upper floor would change her life forever.

The dog killed the woman by knocking her head against the pavement, and in turn, the dog was also died.

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According to the later police report, citing the forensic expert’s conclusion, the 75-year-old woman died from spinal injuries. The morning routine, seemingly harmless and uneventful, has turned into a dramatic tragedy. The victim was not a reckless person, risking her life every day by walking near a multi-storey building. It was not a hazardous area where serious accidents were more likely to occur, according to investigators.

How a Crowd Became Part of the Tragedy

The deaths of the first two victims led to a number of other unfortunate incidents. First of all, the tragedy drew a sizeable crowd of onlookers, including residents and passers-by, who were keen to find out what had happened. In the meantime, a new turn of the tragedy occurred: one of the bystanders was killed.

Edith Solá, a 46- or 47-year-old woman, depending on the source, apparently tried to help the victim while crossing the street. However, her efforts seemed to have been in vain, as she was hit by a bus on line 55 and died from the impact.

It is noteworthy that the place where the woman was killed is also described as a contributing factor to the accident. The intersection of Avenida Rivadavia with Calle Morelos does not have traffic lights, and the signals of the nearest intersections do not always work properly.

This important nuance does not seem to have received much coverage when the story was told 30 years later. However, it probably explains the tragedy’s unique chain of events: a busy street, a large crowd of onlookers, and the impossibility of stopping in time led to a new accident.

The Fourth Victim and the Question of Evidence

Besides the woman and the dog, the incident claimed two more victims. According to one of the stories, an unidentified man also saw the tragedy unfold before his eyes and suffered a cardiac arrest. He died while being transported to the hospital.

At the same time, little is known about this man’s personal history, and later reports do not always mention him. In fact, the dubious nature of this episode lies in the fact that the final victim count seems blurred. A total of four people died as a result of the incident, including three women and a dog.

Why This Accident Still Matters

The tragic incident, which began with a pet falling from the window of a second-floor apartment, has become known as the “Tragedy of the Dog.” It appears to have attracted much public attention, both in the press and on social media, even decades later. Though the weird coincidence is worth considering, the only thing we can learn from it is that the city is a place where dangers lurk in every corner.

The new safety rules require drivers to keep driving instead of stopping to look at an accident. If they want to get a good look, they are recommended to slowly pull over at a safe place. Besides, a crowd of curious people, even if they have good intentions, can be more harmful than an accident on the road, because it blocks the view and causes new mishaps.

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On the other hand, the case demonstrates how small and unplanned events can intertwine, leading to devastating results. The fall of the pet from the 13 th floor, apparently, will continue to live in the popular press and in people’s memories for a long time after the incident.