"It was imminent that it would happen": survivor of mass accident in Granma exposes negligence at the wheel

It was imminent that this would happen, wrote Yori Andino, a survivor along with her daughter and husband from the accident that occurred early this Sunday, in which a state bus ended up shattered on the Bayamo–Las Tunas highway, despite several passengers having criticized moments earlier the reckless driving of the drivers.

The accident occurred after 1:00 a.m. at kilometer 727, when the vehicle rented by the National Center for Scientific Research (CNIC) of BioCubaFarma, coming from Havana and heading to Santiago de Cuba, lost control and crashed into a fixed obstacle.

The account of Andino, shared through his profile on Facebook, reveals the panic experienced: the semi-overturned bus, the screams of terror, his daughter crying, and total chaos in complete darkness.

"I feel pain, deep pain for those whose survival I cannot confirm," wrote the director of the Dolores Concert Hall in Santiago de Cuba.

According to the witness, amid the darkness and chaos, “I was only thinking about getting our daughter to safety. The first ones broke the windows and managed to get out. We lifted the girl with effort, and some strong hands from below helped us.”

Then someone "managed to smash the lock on the back door, and most of us came out bruised but unharmed."

He emphasized that the incident was “the result of the negligence of the drivers who, starting from Sancti Spíritus, accelerated despite several passengers' protests and defied respect for the lives of others.”

Andino herself admitted to having predicted the accident an hour before the crash.

He also emphasized that the police authorities, firefighters, and paramedics acted promptly and responsibly.

On his part, rescuer Aris Arias Batalla was categorical through his Facebook profile: "The essential and clear factors are the human factor, negligent drivers."

He noted that all of this does not absolve the responsibility for "the poor and unfavorable condition of our roadways, public lighting in general, and years of exploitation of our vehicle fleet."

Once again, negligence behind the wheel is claiming lives in Cuba, as the testimonies of survivors reveal that it was not an isolated incident, but rather a disaster that could have been prevented.

The impact resulted in a preliminary toll of two deceased -one person died at the scene and another at the hospital- and at least 27 injured, including a minor.

Six injured individuals have required surgical intervention, as confirmed by the director of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Provincial Hospital in Bayamo, where the affected were taken.

Joint forces from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) are in charge of the investigation to determine the exact causes of this unfortunate incident. The situation is still unfolding, and authorities are expected to provide more information in the coming hours regarding the condition of the injured and the circumstances of the accident.

The accident this Sunday adds to a worrying series of traffic incidents recorded in the province of Granma during 2025.

This Saturday, August 2, a violent crash on the way out of Bayamo towards Holguín left several injured, after a tourism vehicle collided with a private car that was split in half, in a scene that shocked the neighbors.

In June, a motorcyclist was hit by a bus after ignoring a stop sign in front of the Las Novedades store in Bayamo. Later that same week, a truck with a container fell into a ditch on the city's bypass.

Also in April, a mass accident in the Los Guayitos neighborhood of the Río Cauto municipality, left three people injured, including a minor. The incident involved a trailer coming from Camagüey that was carrying 11 passengers and lost control in rainy conditions.

Between January and April of this year, 2,377 traffic accidents were recorded in Cuba. Although the incidents decreased compared to 2024, they were more lethal: deaths increased, despite the decrease in the number of injuries.

Frequently Asked Questions about the mass accident in Granma