An accident involving a 1950s American car (known in Cuba as "almendrones") and a motorcycle occurred on Monday night in front of the so-called Plaza de la Revolución in Havana.
The incident was reported by a Facebook user in the group 'Accidents Buses & Trucks', where she shared a video recorded from inside a bus passing through the area.
Judging by the images, the scene was under a heavy police presence due to its proximity to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), the State Council, and other government offices located in the Plaza de la Revolución.
At the time of writing this note, the causes of the accident are unknown, as well as whether there were any fatalities or injuries. Neither the authorities nor the official media have reported on the incident.
The years of exploitation (almost a century), coupled with a lack of maintenance and spare parts, make the "almendrones" one of the vehicles with the highest accident rates in Cuba.
Many of these accidents have occurred recently involving motorcyclists, as this mode of transportation has become more widespread in the country since its importation and public sale were authorized.
In August, an accident in Havana involved a classic car that lost its brakes and collided with a motorcycle on the Calzada de San Agustín and Sofía, in the Párraga neighborhood of Arroyo Naranjo municipality.
In November 2023, a motorcyclist was left in serious condition after colliding with a vintage car at the traffic light of 114 and 59, in Marianao, Havana.
Shortly before, in June of that same year, two people were injured in a collision between an almendrón and a motorcycle in Havana. The incident occurred on Vía Blanca, between the Luyanó Overpass and the traffic light at the entrance to Virgen del Camino.
Recently, Colonel Roberto Rodríguez Fernández, head of the Specialized Traffic Body of the General Directorate of the Revolutionary National Police (PNR), indicated that 59% of deaths caused by accidents occur among cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.
"Today, there are over 400,000 mopeds used by individuals," the official stated. According to the PNR report, "human factor" is responsible for 91% of traffic accidents in Cuba in 2023.
In the first eight months of 2020, motorcycles were involved in a total of 1,469 accidents, resulting in 51 fatalities and 1,092 injuries. Authorities highlighted that this mode of transportation is responsible for the highest accident rates in the entire country.
In second place were mopeds (vehicles with less than 50 cc that do not exceed 45 km/h), recording a total of 553 accidents, nine fatalities, and 336 injuries.
Bicycles ranked third in these statistics, with 549 accidents, 39 fatalities, and 408 injuries.
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