Overview
- A large avocado fell from a street tree and hit a 12-day-old infant held by his mother at the entrance of Jardín de Infantes Nº 949 in Quilmes on Thursday, Oct. 22.
- The baby, identified as Lucas, suffered multiple skull fractures and internal bleeding, underwent emergency surgery at Sanatorio La Trinidad and later died after several days in intensive care.
- UFI N.º 9 opened a judicial investigation that was first classified as 'lesiones culposas' and was upgraded to 'homicidio culposo' after the infant’s death, with an autopsy and full medical-record seizure ordered.
- Family members and school officials say they had filed repeated requests for pruning of the avocado trees and accuse municipal crews of pruning only after the accident, a claim the municipality disputes by saying the fruit fell naturally and the trees were in good condition.
- Avocados can exceed one kilogram and cause lethal injuries when they fall from height, and the case raises questions about municipal responsibility for urban-tree maintenance and possible civil or criminal liability.