Adrian Pérez and his three young daughters died from dehydration and heatstroke in a rural area of northern Salta after their motorcycle broke down during a family trip.
Police search for the missing family members
The family had set out at noon on Friday from María Cristina in Formosa province heading toward Alto de la Sierra in Salta’s Rivadavia department, where they lived. infobae reports that Pérez and the girls — aged 8, 5, and 4 — lost contact with relatives during the afternoon.
Pérez’s partner alerted authorities on Friday afternoon, prompting an immediate ground search by police units. Rescue teams had to suspend their sweep overnight because of difficult terrain and poor visibility.
Crews resumed operations early Saturday morning and found the four bodies scattered across a wooded area near a secondary road. According to infobae, the father was located near his motorcycle around 20 kilometers from Bragado, while the three children were discovered at various points about 500 meters away.
Autopsies confirm dehydration and heatstroke as causes of death
A police medical examiner performed autopsies confirming that all four victims died from acute dehydration and heatstroke leading to cardiorespiratory arrest, as reported by the Salta Public Ministry. Investigators from the Tartagal Judicial District’s Prosecutor’s Office handled the scene alongside criminalistics personnel.
Did You Know? The family’s journey spanned across provincial borders from María Cristina in Formosa to Alto de la Sierra in Salta, covering a remote stretch of unpaved paths near the Paraguayan border where summer temperatures regularly reach extremes.
Investigators examining the route established a preliminary reconstruction suggesting the family survived a motorcycle rollover during their transit. However, the container carrying their drinking water broke during the accident, leaving them without supplies in the arid brushland.
Questions about the family's journey and deaths
When did the family leave on their journey?
Adrian Pérez and his three daughters departed at noon on Friday, November 13, traveling from María Cristina in Formosa toward Alto de la Sierra in Salta.
What caused the deaths of the four victims?
Forensic examinations conducted by the police medical examiner confirmed that all four family members died from acute dehydration and heatstroke causing cardiorespiratory arrest.
How were the victims discovered by authorities?
Following a missing persons report filed on Friday afternoon, police launched a search that was paused overnight and resumed on Saturday morning, leading to the discovery of the bodies in a wooded area near a secondary road.