A truck from BDC International, based in the Special Development Zone of Mariel (ZED Mariel), crashed this Thursday into a concrete separator on the overpass at kilometer 232 of the National Highway, near the municipality of Santa Isabel de las Lajas, Cienfuegos province.
The incident occurred in the area known as "El Tequedará Ranch," according to several users on social media, who also clarified that the accident did not take place at kilometer 230, as initially stated, but at kilometer 232, a section belonging to the municipality of Lajero.
Images and videos shared by the Facebook group ‘Accidentes Buses & Camiones’ show the vehicle's cabin completely wrecked after the severe crash.
Initially, the health status of the driver and their passenger was unknown, which raised concern among internet users. However, a user identified as René Bartolo, who claimed to be a colleague of those involved, stated that both of them survived and are recovering. "Thank God they are alive," he wrote in the comments.
Although the causes of the accident have not been disclosed, some users speculated that sleepiness might be a contributing factor. Others pointed out the uneven surfaces that are often present in the elevated sections of roads and highways in Cuba, which, combined with unfamiliarity with the route and high speeds, can lead to similar accidents.
This fact once again highlights the ongoing traffic accidents on the island, particularly those involving heavy vehicles, such as trucks and buses, which often operate under poor mechanical conditions or on poorly marked and deteriorated roads.
This is not an isolated case. In October 2024, a truck went off the road on a bridge in Sancti Spíritus. Two months earlier, another cargo vehicle fell from a bridge in Eastern Havana, although its occupants were unharmed.
In February 2024, seven people were injured after a truck fell from a bridge in Granma, and in August of the same year, another driver was injured under similar circumstances. Also, in January 2025, a tragic accident in Cienfuegos left several dead and injured, reflecting a concerning trend.
The company involved in this new incident, BDC International, is Belgian-owned and has been operating in Cuba for several years. Through its subsidiaries BDC Log S.A. and BDC Tec S.A., it engages in logistics, transportation, and electronic manufacturing activities in the Special Development Zone (ZED) Mariel.
This accident, fortunately without any fatalities, rekindles the debate on the necessity of improving road safety in the country, especially on elevated sections and bridges where, on multiple occasions, the lack of maintenance or proper signage has contributed to fatal outcomes.
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