A CUPET truck that transports gas cylinders crashed into a car and ended up overturned this Wednesday, due to the traffic light at a busy intersection in Vedado, Havana, being without electricity.
"Right now, Línea and 12. The car with the little balls came along 12, with no light at the traffic signal, it took the priority away from the Pontiac," reported a witness of the traffic accident on Facebook.
In the photo, the truck from the state-owned company Unión Cuba Petróleo can be seen overturned on Línea street, and the four traffic lights (for vehicles and pedestrians) are out, likely due to a blackout in the area.
The image does not confirm whether the truck was loaded with gas cylinders, and the post does not specify it either. Some users claimed that the firefighters arrived at the scene but did nothing.
A internet user stated in the comments that the three people in the truck "are fine, just minor injuries, and are still at the accident site." It has not been disclosed whether the driver of the car sustained any injuries from the collision.
"Drivers, in Cuba there are no lights at the traffic signals anymore, the police are busy with other matters, be very cautious," warned the author of the post, who triggered a barrage of criticism due to the traffic lights being out of power—due to constant blackouts—and the absence of police to control traffic in those situations.
"Practically all the traffic lights without electricity and not a single 'caballito' (motorcycle police) directing traffic, an accident that could have been avoided," said a man, an opinion reiterated by several of the people who commented on the post.
"Yesterday I went through eight dangerous traffic lights... not a police officer, not traffic control... not one. Where were they? No one knows," said another.
A neighbor from the area stated that that corner is "one of the most dangerous, especially when there is no electricity," and criticized the authorities: "The police care very little, luckily the people in the truck are okay, they only stop to direct traffic when the owners of this country are passing by."
Several also considered that the responsibility of the drivers in accidents like this cannot be ignored.
"When there is no light, even with the right of way, you have to make sure that no one is coming and not assume that they are going to stop. A tourist, an inexperienced driver, or a Fangio or Schumacher could come, as there are many. A good driver should ensure not to make assumptions," emphasized a user. "That is a big mistake; there are signals and they are not respected, and traffic indiscipline is very high," warned another.
On social media, there have been reports of some accidents involving Cupet trucks transporting gas cylinders, which have ended up overturned, possibly due to the weight they usually carry.
In June of last year, one of these vehicles overturned at the entrance of the Antonio Maceo district in Santiago de Cuba, which prompted the activation of the fire command. The cylinders it was transporting were empty, and the driver emerged unharmed from the incident.
At the beginning of 2023, another truck had a similar accident in the Diez de Octubre municipality in Havana. CUPET reported that there were no injuries and no gas leak was reported.
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