Mario Pagrino and Gianni Grossi, a couple recognized for their work on Barbie and Madonna dolls, tragically lost their lives in a car crash on Sunday.
The accident occurred when 82-year-old Egidi Ocerliano drove the wrong way for about four miles, colliding head-on with their vehicle on the A4 Torino-Milan Highway in Italy.
At the time of the incident, Pagrino was with 37-year-old Amodio Giurni and his wife, Silvia Moramarco. Jurnie unfortunately also died in the crash, while Moramarco sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital.
Authorities reported that Ocerliano made a U-turn after paying the toll and mistakenly entered the highway in the opposite direction.
There wasn’t heavy traffic that day, and many drivers managed to avoid the 82-year-old’s Peugeot 206 station wagon. Sadly, the two couples traveling from Novara to Milan in their Peugeot 2008 weren’t as fortunate.
Moramarco, the sole survivor, awakened from a coma on Wednesday and stated, “I remember everything,” according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
Friends of Moramarco, who were visiting her in Nigarda Hospital in Milan, confirmed she has vivid memories of the accident.
The Milan Prosecutor’s Office is looking into the circumstances of the crash, including conducting an autopsy on Ocerliano to better understand his actions before the accident, as reported by La Repubblica.
Funeral services for Giurni are planned for Thursday in his hometown of Tito, while Pagrino and Grossi will be laid to rest in Novara on Friday.
“The Barbie team is grieving the loss of Mario Pagrino and Gianni Grossi,” the statement read.
“As passionate and talented individuals, their dedication to the brand brought remarkable transformation to every creation they were involved with,” added Barbie. “Not just talented designers, they brought joy and vibrancy to every environment they graced.”
Pagrino and Grossi operated a company that specialized in custom dolls and were honored with the Barbie Best Friend Award in 2016 by Barbie fashion designer Carol Spencer.
They were also well-known for creating dolls representing various celebrities like Madonna and Lady Gaga.
“Whether leading an Italian doll convention or showcasing their love for Barbie at events worldwide, they filled every moment with warmth and camaraderie,” the statement reflected.
They were known for their generosity as well, having raised $15,000 for charity by auctioning dolls at the National Barbie Convention in 2015.
“Barbie truly benefited from their passion for the brand. The collectors’ community is enriched by their legacy,” the statement concluded, “with deep respect for their memory.”
