Argentine actor and TV presenter Ernestina Pais was killed on Friday, June 26, 2026, when a train collided with her car at a level crossing in San Isidro, Argentina. CCTV footage shows her vehicle proceeding onto the tracks despite the barrier being down.
Details of the crash
The impact struck the driver's side of the Honda City, pushing the car along the rails before it was run over. Pais, 54, suffered a severe head injury and died instantly, according to a post-mortem examination. A local man named 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."
Driving history and legal issues
Pais had been driving while disqualified. Her driving privileges were revoked after she collided with an Alfa Romeo in Vicente López in March 2026 and declined to provide a breath sample. She also accumulated numerous speeding violations across Buenos Aires and Buenos Aires Province, with penalties totaling approximately 2.5 million ARS (£1,280). In March 2024, she was admitted to a rehabilitation facility by court order for alcoholism, as reported by NeedToKnow. She was writing a book about her six-and-a-half-month rehabilitation, due for publication in 2027.
Tributes and funeral
Pais was scheduled to star in the play "El divorcio del año" at a Tigre theatre on the evening of the crash. Her funeral on June 28 was attended by her sister, TV presenter Federica Pais; her mother, Milka Truol; and her 22-year-old son, Benicio. Benicio paid tribute, writing: "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.' 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."
