Barbie Designers Killed in Head-On Car Crash After 82-Year-Old Drives Wrong Way Down Highway in Italy: Reports
"The Barbie team is heartbroken by the loss of Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi," the brand wrote in an emotional tribute on Instagram
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Gianni Grossi (left) and Mario Paglino pictured in 2023
NEED TO KNOW
- Barbie designers Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi were killed on Sunday, July 27, after an 82-year-old man drove the wrong way down an Italian highway
- Four people died in the crash, and a fifth was hospitalized
- The Barbie team wrote that they were "heartbroken by the loss" in a tribute on Instagram
The Barbie team is paying tribute to two of the brand's beloved designers after they died in a fatal car crash in Italy.
On Sunday, July 27, partners in life and work, Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi, were killed after an 82-year-old man drove the wrong way on Italy's A4 Turin-Milan highway, per Sky TG24, which is owned by Sky Italia, and local news agency Ansa.
Paglino, 52, Grossi, 55, and banker Amodio Valerio Giurni, 37, died in the crash, Ansa reported. Giurni's wife, Silvia Moramarco, 36, was injured in the accident and is currently hospitalized at Niguarda Hospital in Milan, the outlet stated.
The elderly man, who also died, has been identified as Egidio Ceriano, Ansa noted. He was thought to have traveled just over four miles in the wrong lane on the highway before allegedly causing the fatal crash.
The head-on collision occurred near the Marcallo-Mesero tollbooth in Lombardy, per the news agency.
Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Mario Paglino (left) and Gianni Grossi pictured in 2012
Paglino and Grossi founded Magnia2000 — a company that creates custom Barbie dolls, one of which sold for $15,000 at a charity auction in 2015 — back in 1999, per the website.
Barbie shared a tribute on Instagram after news of the tragedy emerged online, writing, "The Barbie team is heartbroken by the loss of Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi, two treasured creators and Mattel collaborators who brought joy and artistry to the world of Barbie as Magnia2000."
"As passionate and talented designers and lifelong collectors, their spirit and love for the brand turned every creation they touched into a masterpiece," the tribute added.
"Beyond their remarkable talent, they shared an energy that lit up every space they entered," the post, which included a photo of the pair posing underneath a Barbie sign, continued.
Per the Magnia2000 website, the company "created the Italian Doll Convention, the largest fashion dolls event in Europe, promoting the passion for Barbie and all fashion dolls" in 2011.
"From 2015, they [were consultants] for the 'Barbie The Icon' [exhibition] in Milan and Rome, where they also displayed part of their personal Barbie collection," the site added.
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Gianni Grossi (left) and Mario Paglino pictured in 2023
Barbie's tribute mentioned some of the pair's many achievements. "Whether leading the Italian Doll Convention in Milan or showcasing their talents and love for Barbie at doll shows all over the world, their presence brought warmth, laughter, and a sense of belonging," the tribute continued.
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"Their generosity was boundless, creating countless dolls to be auctioned to benefit charities close to fellow collectors' hearts. Barbie is better because they loved the brand, and our beloved collector community is richer for having known them and shared in their passion. Barbie honors their memory with deep gratitude," the post concluded.
The caption read, "Barbie mourns the loss of two treasured artists whose work has forever shaped the world of dolls. Mario and Gianni, you will be missed. 🩷"
PEOPLE has reached out to Mattel for comment, and has attempted to contact the local police for additional information regarding the crash.
