Italian press identifies tourist who died in mass accident in Cienfuegos

In the last few hours, the Italian press has identified the deceased tourist as Patrizia Crisolini Malatesta, who lost her life this Thursday in a tragic traffic accident on the National Highway, near the municipality of Aguada de Pasajeros, in the province of Cienfuegos.

In addition to the Italian, a Cuban also died who was a guide for the Ecotur agency, and whom the official Cuban press has not yet identified by name.

Patrizia Crisolini -who was the coordinator of the group of Italians who were injured- was a passionate traveler who devoted more than two decades of her life to coordinating and leading tours for the agency Avventure nel Mondo, becoming a point of reference for many travelers.

Just over a week ago, Avventura Nel Mondo dedicated a video to Cuba.

At 67 years old and originally from Rome, Patrizia Crisolini Malatesta was a woman passionate about travel and photography.

His adventurous spirit and insatiable curiosity were reflected in his blog and Instagram posts, where he shared stories of his countless adventures, many of them in countries across Africa and Asia.

In her blog, Patrizia described herself as a restless and curious person.

"I do a little bit of everything. Sometimes I think that if I had focused on just one thing, I could have achieved perfection, but dedicating myself solely to something bores me. I love trying new things, and once I master them, I move on to the next adventure," one can read there.

Throughout her life, Patrizia explored a multitude of activities: from creating jewelry and gardening to learning languages such as English, Spanish, and French.

She also studied photography and post-production, in addition to exploring dance through Cuban salsa classes. For her, every experience was a learning opportunity and a reflection of her insatiable curiosity about the world.

In recent hours, Facebook has been filled with expressions of condolence from many of his friends and adventure companions.

Through his blog, he not only shared his experiences but also conveyed a clear message: to live fully and embrace curiosity as the driving force of existence.

The Italian press has bid her farewell with care and respect.

What is known about the accident

Although the Italian press claims that the minibus driver died, this statement does not align with what has been reported by the official Cuban media so far, which mentioned two deceased women: one Cuban and one Italian.

In addition to the two deceased, seven other people were injured and were immediately transported to the Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima University General Hospital.

A doctor interviewed by the television center Perlavisión recently mentioned that among the injured there are two in critical or very serious condition (red code); two serious (yellow code); and three others with minor injuries (green code).

According to preliminary reports, the 16-seat minibus from Transtur, coming from the Santa Fe base in Havana, collided with the highway divider at kilometer 209, near the municipality of Aguada de Pasajeros, for reasons that are under investigation.

Images shared on social media have revealed the magnitude of the accident. The vehicle was transporting eight tourists at the time of the impact.

The most recent report from official sources did not mention that a truck was involved in the incident, as was initially indicated, although the Italian press does mention it.

In the first half of January 2025, several serious accidents have already occurred on Cuban roads.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Traffic Accident in Cienfuegos