Top Barbie designers killed in Italy car crash

Two of Barbie’s leading designers were reportedly killed along with two others in a horrific head-on crash in Italy while both vehicles were going over 80 miles an hour.

Mario Paglino, 52, and Gianni Grossi, 48, died in Sunday’s crash after an elderly driver going the wrong way down the highway plowed into their SUV, killing himself in the process, Italian outlet La Repubblica reported.

Barbie’s official Instagram account praised the couple, describing them as “two treasured artists whose work has forever shaped the world of dolls” in a statement.

“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 Magia 2000,” the tribute read.

“As passionate and talented designers and lifelong collectors, their spirit and love for the brand turned every creation they touched into a masterpiece. Beyond their remarkable talent, they shared an energy that lit up every space they entered,” the post continued.

“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 concluded.

Egidio Ceriani, the 82-year-old driving the other vehicle, made a U-turn after missing a toll booth and was driving the wrong way up the highway for more than four miles at over 80 mph, according to traffic cops.

A couple in another vehicle described how they were almost killed by Cerian.

“We barely survived: my husband swerved, I don’t know how, it was a miracle,” the woman wrote on Facebook, as reported by La Repubblica.

Amodio Giurni, 38, a banker traveling in the car with Paglino and Grossi, was also killed in the crash near the town of Mesero, 19 miles west of Milan.

Giurni’s wife, Silvia Moramarco, 37, was also in the SUV and was rushed to the hospital in Milan in a critical condition.

The two couples were old friends who lived on the same street, and were believed to be traveling for a day at the lake when they were killed, La Repubblica reports.

In 2006, Paglino and Grossi became the first ever non-American artist duo to design a souvenir Barbie doll when they produced the Barbie Film Noir for that year’s National Barbie Convention.

They also produced a number of one-off dolls inspired by famous paintings, including works by Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo and Piet Mondrian.

In 2015, one of their creations sold at a charity auction for around $15,000.