Barbie fashion designer dies in car crash in Italy

(Web Desk) – Barbie designers Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi were killed in a tragic car accident in Italy on Sunday.

The professional partners died in a head-on collision after an 82-year-old man, identified as Egidio Ceriano, drove the wrong way on the A4 Turin-Milan highway.

Paglino and Grossi were accompanied by friends Amodio Valerio Giurni and Silvia Moramacro. Mr Giurni, a bank employee, died at the scene, while Ms Moramacro was hospitalised in critical condition. Ceriano, the elderly driver, also died in the crash.

According to reports, Ceriano had missed a toll booth and made a U-turn, driving over four miles in the wrong direction at speeds exceeding 80 mph. Another couple on the highway narrowly avoided collision, calling their escape “a miracle.”

Paglino and Grossi were believed to be heading for a day at the lake.

The pair, founders of custom doll company Magia2000, began their work in 1999 and were celebrated within the Barbie community for their celebrity-inspired dolls. In 2016, they received the Barbie Best Friend Award from designer Carol Spencer.

Barbie’s official Instagram account mourned their loss, calling them “two treasured artists” who “brought joy and artistry to the world of Barbie.”