"'We were born again': The hero who saved a bus without brakes in La Farola speaks"

"We were born again," said a moved Luis Antonio Rodríguez Griñán, the young bus driver who managed to save the lives of 45 people by skillfully maneuvering a brake-less vehicle during the perilous descent down La Farola hill in Guantánamo.

The incident occurred this Tuesday when bus 1246, which was covering the Maisí–Havana route, departed shortly after 2:20 p.m.

According to the driver's account to local media, before setting out, the vehicle's technical system was checked and no faults were detected. However, when beginning the descent down La Farola, one of the most challenging roads in Cuba, the brakes failed to respond.

From that moment on, Rodríguez took control with nerves of steel, navigating nearly ten curves on the stretch known as "La Veguita."

In a desperate attempt to stop the vehicle, he deliberately crashed it into the protective walls, right at the edge of the abyss, preventing what could have been a tragedy of significant proportions.

The testimony was shared by journalist Orlando Amaro Álvarez Álvarez on social media, who referred to it as “The victor over death” and announced a special report for the state-run broadcaster CMKC in Santiago de Cuba.

After the incident, the brave driver received hugs, tears, and expressions of gratitude from the passengers, who acknowledged his courage both in person and through social media.

According to the testimony of several passengers, the driver managed to maintain control of the vehicle for over a kilometer, navigating sharp curves and steep inclines until he was able to stop it without any injuries or loss of life.

"The driver acted swiftly and skillfully, which prevented further harm," emphasized the official statement from the Provincial Transport Directorate of Guantánamo.

No injuries were reported, and the passengers were transferred to another mode of transport to continue their journey to the capital.

"I was traveling on the bus, and what we went through was very difficult. Thanks to that young driver, we were saved, the people who were on the bus," commented a passenger.

"I am his father, and I give a thousand thanks to my great Lord for protecting him every second while he was making that great maneuver to save all those lives on that bus—children, elderly people, all those lives that witnessed that tragic moment. Thank you, dear son, it is the work of the great Lord that I have always encouraged you to believe in," said the emotional father of the driver.

"Thank God there were no major incidents, but we need to reflect and draw the attention of national transportation leaders to provide a bus that meets the conditions necessary to cover this route, as the situation demands," noted a resident of Baracoa.

Frequently Asked Questions about the bus incident in La Farola