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The outcome of the investigation into the serious accident that occurred early Monday morning involving two buses transporting state workers in Ciego de Ávila confirmed that the incident was the responsibility of the driver operating the Yutong bus coming from the main municipality, as revealed this Wednesday by the newspaper Granma.
Captain Norge Pérez Fraga, second-in-command of Police Instruction in the province, stated that, following the “thorough investigation at the scene”, it was found that the driver of the offending vehicle - who was traveling from south to north - “interfered in the path of the Transmetro, which was traveling in the opposite direction, amidst a severe fog that hindered visibility.”
The offender - who was one of the initial fatalities in the accident - is said to have violated one of the articles of Law 109 or the Road and Traffic Code, according to the official source, which did not specify which article was violated.
On the other hand, in the last few hours, the official death toll as a result of the incident increased from six to seven, after Michel Rodríguez Hernández, 34 years old and an employee of the Playa Coco hotel, died at the “Roberto Rodríguez” hospital in Morón on Tuesday.
Regarding the other injured individuals, Aniuska Planché Speck, 38 years old, remains in critical condition, from the municipality of Ciro Redondo.
In addition, there are six other injured individuals admitted to the "Antonio Luaces Iraola" hospital in Ciego de Ávila, five of whom are in serious condition, and their identities have not been disclosed.
Dr. Livania Lozano Lezcano, head of the Director's office at the hospital, clarified to Granma that there are still “a number of patients hospitalized at the Roberto Rodríguez,” although the exact figure was not specified.
The accident, which occurred on the Morón-Isla de Turiguanó road, resulted in an initial toll of six fatalities (four at the scene and two in the hospital) and 59 injuries.
In addition to the death this Tuesday, the deceased include drivers Yuniester Oliva Artiles and Yohelvis Reino Veitía, from Ciego de Ávila; and workers Ezequiel Días Matos (Baraguá), Daniel Trujillo Rodríguez (Morón), Yaensy Conde Vega, and Javier Hernández Zamora (both from Ciro Redondo).
On the same Monday, shortly after the incident, the official press raised the death toll to 11, but soon after retracted that statement and reverted to the initial figure of six deaths.
On social media, acquaintances of the injured are discussing the improvement of some of the victims, but the official source did not mention any medical discharges.
After the incident, many people went to the blood bank to donate in response to the authorities' call.
According to data from the National Road Safety Commission, last year there were 7,507 traffic accidents, a 12% decrease compared to the 2023 figures (8,556).
Furthermore, deaths decreased by 13% (634), and the number of injured was 6,613, which is a 4% reduction compared to the incidents that occurred the previous year.
Authorities insist that the main causes are driver infractions, followed by the poor condition of the roads due to lack of maintenance and the age of the vehicle fleet, which averages between 40 and 70 years.
However, despite such encouraging news, the reality is that January is proving to be a dark month on Cuban roads.
Just four days earlier, an accident on the National Highway near Aguada de Pasajeros, Cienfuegos, resulted in two fatalities, one of whom was an Italian tourist, and seven injured.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Mass Accident in Ciego de Ávila
What was the cause of the accident in Ciego de Ávila?
The accident was caused by human error, specifically by the driver of the Yutong bus who blocked the path of the Transmetro vehicle in the middle of dense fog that made visibility difficult.
How many people died in the accident in Ciego de Ávila?
So far, seven people have died as a result of the accident, including both drivers of the buses involved and several state workers.
What is the condition of the injured after the accident?
Currently, there are several critically injured individuals, including a 38-year-old woman. Six other injured individuals are admitted to the hospital, five of whom are in critical condition.
What measures are the authorities taking following the accident?
Authorities have urged the public to exercise extreme caution while driving, especially in low visibility conditions due to fog. They have also emphasized the need to strengthen road safety measures in the country.
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