What the residents of Havana say about the multiple accident in their neighborhoods

Havana woke up this Monday shaken by an unusual and tragic event: a car plowed through several streets in Centro Habana and Habana Vieja, running over nine people, including minors, according to testimonies collected by CubaNet.

One of the victims, a 35-year-old woman, lost her life, while the remaining eight injured individuals are hospitalized under medical care.

The Ministry of the Interior (MININT) confirmed the incident in an official statement, describing it as "regrettable" and stating that the driver, a foreign national, was detained.

However, the lack of accurate information regarding the driver's identity and the circumstances surrounding the events has generated uncertainty and discontent among the neighbors, who have shared their own versions and details of the incident.

The deadly journey of the red Audi

Sources indicate that the vehicle involved is likely a red Audi, driven by a Cuban-American, although this has not been confirmed.

The car, according to witness accounts, reportedly entered the street Reina in the wrong direction, drove down to Galiano, and struck several people in its path.

A man riding his pedicab was hit, and the tricycle was destroyed, as captured in a video shared on social media.

"This guy went up the tur, turned, ran into a bicitaxi that was there and a motorcycle, throwing it to the ground. He made a U-turn, continued up Galiano, and in front of the café where they sell caldosa, he hit a young girl or boy," narrated a man in a video shared on Facebook by CubaNet.

According to the account, later on, the driver ran over two more people and destroyed the bicitaxi in El Curita park, knocked down another woman and a young girl, and continued in the wrong direction along Galiano until reaching the Malecón.

Another man stated that the driver seemed to be acting indiscriminately: "They say he was going around at dawn, hitting everyone who was on the street."

The violence and apparent lack of control led some to speculate that the driver may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a claim that has not yet been confirmed by the authorities.

The outrage of the neighbors

In the affected neighborhoods, reactions range from indignation to fear and disbelief. A woman stated that everything happened between 1 and 2 in the morning.

The neighbors also report a lack of clear information and official secrecy.

While state media like Juventud Rebelde and Cubadebate limited themselves to reproducing the brief statement from MININT, the wave of rumors and testimonies on social media has grown unabated.

A city on alert

Havana, where traffic accidents are common but rarely reach such proportions, was shaken after the multiple hit-and-run incident.

The official version states that the driver remains detained and under investigation, but the people of Havana are demanding greater transparency.

While the injured remain hospitalized and the investigation is ongoing, it is clear that this event has deeply affected the neighborhoods of Centro Habana and Habana Vieja, where the voices of residents can still be heard seeking answers to what happened on that terrifying early morning.

"What you see in accidents every day, you have to be out on the street with four eyes, and even then, you're not safe," affirmed a woman from Guantánamo online.

"That is terrorism, as it is an act he committed with the intent to cause harm, to kill, anywhere in the world," emphasized a young man.

Although MININT has not confirmed this version, several residents insist that among the injured there are minors, which increases the outrage within the community.

There are also speculations about whether the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, although there is no official information on this matter.

"There's a lot of drugs in Havana and few police. At this time, they should be patrolling and the security cameras should be operational, but it seems like nothing works anymore," criticized a netizen.

"That incident was not a random accident; it was premeditated, life imprisonment. Any one of us, our children could have been passing by at that moment," another one said.

Fear and distrust in the neighborhoods

Neighbors agree that what happened reflects not just an isolated accident, but also the pervasive feeling of vulnerability that prevails on the streets of Havana during the early morning hours.

The lack of clear information from the authorities keeps tensions high in the neighborhoods where the incidents occurred.

While MININT insists that the case is under investigation, questions are growing on the streets: who was the driver really? What led him to speed through several blocks, running over pedestrians? What responsibility will the institutions take in light of this incident that has left mourning and pain in Havana families?

For now, eight of the injured remain hospitalized in health centers in the capital.

Meanwhile, the residents of Centro Habana and La Habana Vieja continue to discuss, amidst indignation and sadness, what occurred that night, waiting for the authorities to provide convincing explanations about an event that has shaken the entire city.

Frequently Asked Questions about the multiple pedestrian accident in Havana