Friday night was marked by a tragic accident on the road to the municipality of Florida in Camagüey. After 7:00 PM, two buses collided, resulting in two fatalities and more than 50 injuries, according to initial reports.
Among the fatalities is the driver of one of the buses, who died at the scene of the accident. The second victim passed away after being transferred to the "Manuel Ascunce Domenech" University Hospital, as reported on her social media by journalist Yahily Hernández Porto from the state-run newspaper Juventud Rebelde.
An update from Hernández Porto confirmed that "the deceased is a 49-year-old woman who, after being operated on for severe closed abdominal trauma, with hepatic and splenic (spleen) rupture, and experiencing very unstable surgical trauma, did not survive" the procedure.
Dr. Domínguez Rosabal stated that the rest of the injured are being treated in the Surgery, Orthopedics, Minimally Invasive, and Neurosurgery wards.
At this center, 54 adults are receiving medical care, of which five are in critical condition and three have undergone surgery due to severe abdominal injuries.
Furthermore, seven minors, aged between 1 and 11 years, are hospitalized at the "Eduardo Agramonte Piña" Pediatric Hospital. In statements to Televisión Camagüey, the director of the institution, Dr. Andrei Rodríguez Navarro, indicated that five of them are in the surgery room and two are in intermediate care.
"Although their CT scans and cranial examinations are negative, continuous and specialized monitoring is being maintained," added the doctor, affirming that all the minors are out of danger.
Accident details
The collision involved two Yutong buses: one was a Transmetro operating under a leasing system from Songo La Maya, Santiago de Cuba, and the other was carrying workers from a Military Construction Unit.
According to various reports on , the collision occurred on the Western Bypass of Camagüey, near the embarkation point of the highway to the west.
A source close to the accident site reported to independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada that the cause may have been one of the drivers' unfamiliarity with the area, as he ignored a stop sign while attempting to merge onto the Central Highway.
"This place is very dark, like all the points of the city's ring road," the source assured the informant.
Solidarity and response
In light of the magnitude of the accident, health authorities in Camagüey have issued a call for solidarity.
Dr. Carlos Morán Giraldo, General Director of Public Health in the province, announced that those wishing to donate blood will be able to do so starting at 7:00 am on Saturday, January 11, at the Provincial Blood Bank.
The accident site remains under investigation to clarify all the details of this tragic event. This tragedy once again highlights the need to improve road conditions and signage at critical points, such as the area where the incident occurred.
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