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A double traffic accident that occurred this Tuesday near the town of Santa Elena, on the national highway in Santiago de Cuba, left several injured and caused chaos on the road, in a scene that witnesses described as chaotic. According to independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, it was “a snapshot of disorder and state irresponsibility.”
“A crew from the Electric Company decided to stop in the middle of the highway to perform routine work, without putting up a single warning sign,” Labrada recounted on his Facebook profile. According to his report, a Copextel crane coming down a curve was forced to swerve to avoid the parked vehicles, drove onto the central divider, and ended up overturning. There were seven people in the vehicle; two of them were taken to the hospital. But the chaos didn’t end there. Labrada explained that while the crane remained blocking the road, without any operation set up to manage traffic, “a military vehicle heading towards the airport encountered the scene and, while trying to avoid it, veered off the road and crashed into another parked car.”
"Up to that point, with how tragic it was, it seemed sufficient. But no. When the crane was still in the middle of the road, without any measures being taken to ensure road safety, a military vehicle heading toward the airport encountered the scene, veered off the road, and collided with another parked car. The chaos was complete," wrote the reporter.
In his post, the journalist emphasized that "everything happened in a matter of minutes" and harshly criticized the inaction of the authorities: "It’s madness that repeats itself every time state institutions operate without prevention, and the authorities arrive late, leaving the people exposed to disaster."
After the publication of the complaint, several users commented that the crane involved did not belong to Copextel, as initially indicated, but rather to ETECSA.
Among the comments on the original post, a user identified as Yolaidis Peña introduced herself as the daughter of the tow truck driver involved in the accident. "Just to clarify: the tow truck does not belong to Copextel, it belongs to ETECSA. When you report on a tragedy like this, please make sure to inform yourselves correctly. Unfortunately, the tow truck driver is my dad," she wrote.
Additionally, from her own profile, the young woman shared a message asking for "a lot for the ETECSA colleagues, especially for my dad, Vladimir Peña." In that post, she added that of the seven workers in the vehicle, only two — her father and another colleague — lost consciousness, while the others "are doing well."
His words provide relevant information about the health status of the injured and specify the institutional affiliation of the team involved. So far, the authorities have not given an official account of the incident.
An alarming pattern on Cuban roads
This new incident is part of a series of road accidents that have shaken the country in recent days, reflecting a profound structural crisis in road safety.
On Monday, September 22, 49 people were injured in Villa Clara —including nine children— following a multiple collision involving a Yutong bus, a Diana bus, and an animal-drawn cart, on the road to Esperanza.
Days earlier, an accident in Cienfuegos claimed the lives of the first secretary of the Communist Party in the municipality of Cruces and her driver, after the vehicle left the road under heavy rain conditions. Witnesses claim they were traveling at high speed, although the official version did not specify the causes.
Also this Tuesday, a scooter overturned in front of PCC leaders in Santa Clara, leaving a man injured and a minor hospitalized as a precautionary measure.
The occurrence of several serious accidents in different provinces in such a short span of time points to a worrying situation. Citizens' complaints consistently highlight the lack of prevention, signage, and control on the roads as common factors. Meanwhile, the absence of institutional responses fuels the perception that road safety in Cuba is not being treated as a priority, despite the rising human cost.
Frequently Asked Questions about Traffic Accidents in Cuba
What caused the double accident on the highway in Santiago de Cuba?
The double accident was caused by state negligence, as a crew from the Electric Company stopped in the middle of the highway to carry out work without signaling the danger. This forced a tow truck from ETECSA to swerve around the parked vehicles, resulting in it overturning in the process. The lack of prevention and signaling was a key factor in the chaos that ensued.
What is the condition of the injured in the accident in Santiago de Cuba?
Of the seven people traveling in the ETECSA crane, only two lost consciousness and were taken to the hospital. The others are doing well, although the incident caused a great fright and chaos in the area.
Why is it considered that there is a road safety crisis in Cuba?
The frequency of serious accidents in various provinces of Cuba over a short period reflects a structural crisis in road safety. Common causes include a lack of prevention, signage, and control on the roads, as well as institutional inaction. These factors have led to an increase in accidents and a high human cost.
What measures should be taken to improve road safety in Cuba?
To improve road safety in Cuba, it is crucial to implement appropriate preventive measures and signage, in addition to effective traffic control. It is necessary for the authorities to take immediate action to address the deficiencies in road infrastructure and promote a culture of responsibility at the wheel.
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