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The number of fatalities from the tragic traffic accident that occurred on the afternoon of Friday, May 23 at kilometer 277 of the National Highway in Villa Clara Province has increased to five, according to official sources.
The accident involved two vehicles, a Peugeot 405 with license plate P 122 449 and a Geely MK with license plate P 202 650, which collided head-on.
Initially, four fatalities were reported at the scene of the accident, along with three injured individuals in critical condition. Subsequently, the official newspaper Granma confirmed that one of the injured passed away while receiving specialized medical care at the Arnaldo Milián Castro Provincial Hospital, bringing the total number of fatalities to five.
The deceased have been identified as:
Maels Rodríguez Sánchez, 22 years old, originally from Taguazco, Zaza del Medio, Sancti Spíritus province.
José Antonio Rodríguez Lorenzo, the driver of the car and father of Maels, is also originally from Taguasco, Zaza del Medio, Sancti Spíritus.
Both were traveling in the PEUGEOT 405.
While the occupants of the GEELY MK died:
Raúl Basilio Ysisdro González, 57 years old, the driver of the vehicle, originally from Taguazco, Zaza del Medio.
Karina Sánchez Sánchez, 27 years old, originally from Jatibonico, Sancti Spíritus.
Mario Bárbaro Ramos Díaz, 25 years old, originally from Jatibonico, Sancti Spíritus.
Two people remain in serious condition, both passengers of the Peugeot 405:
Yosvanis Crespo Benítez, 45 years old, originally from Taguasco, Zaza del Medio, Sancti Spíritus, who is currently hospitalized in critical condition.
Yoegnis Granado Fernández, 40 years old, also originally from Taguasco.
During the last year, Cuba has been the scene of multiple mass traffic accidents that have resulted in a concerning number of victims. One of the most serious occurred on January 20 in Ciego de Ávila, where six people died and another 59 were injured following the collision of two buses on the road between Morón and Isla de Turiguanó. The investigations pointed to human error as the main cause.
According to official figures, in 2024, there were 7,507 traffic accidents reported in Cuba, resulting in 634 fatalities and 6,613 injuries. These figures, while lower than the previous year in terms of accidents and deaths, indicate an increase in the number of injuries.
Among the main identified causes are lack of attention while driving, failure to yield the right of way, speeding, and alcohol consumption.
In January 2025, the preliminary report already showed an increase in deaths compared to the same month of the previous year, with 65 fatalities recorded in that first month alone.
This series of accidents highlights a troubling trend that demands the urgent implementation of more effective policies for prevention, technical vehicle inspections, and road safety education.
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