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A tragic traffic accident shocked the province of Villa Clara this Saturday, following the overturning of a minibus that resulted in one death and 14 injuries.
So far, the identity of the deceased has not been revealed.
The vehicle was transporting the musical group "Velito, el Bufón," all of whose members were injured.
The accident occurred on the morning of January 17 at kilometer 249 of the National Highway.
According to initial reports, the accident occurred around 9:00 a.m., when a Chapa brand minibus, license plate W008980, traveling from Havana to Camagüey, veered off the road and overturned after rolling several times on the asphalt.
The minibus driver stated that he had fallen asleep at the wheel, which caused him to lose control of the vehicle.
His testimony immediately triggered the hypothesis of fatigue while driving, one of the most common causes of accidents in the region, according to recent reports from traffic authorities.
Medical attention and emergency response
In response to the accident, the Integrated Medical Emergency System was activated, deploying first aid and evacuation teams in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and the provincial health system.
The wounded were initially transferred to the Juan Bautista Contreras Foule Polyclinic in the municipality of Ranchuelo, where they received primary care.
Subsequently, they were transferred to the Arnaldo Milián Castro Clinical Surgical Hospital in the city of Santa Clara to continue their medical treatment.
Although all the injured were classified as having minor injuries, the seriousness of the incident and the number of people involved led it to be categorized as a mass accident, as confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Heriberto López Pérez de Prado, head of the Provincial Traffic Unit, in statements to the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
"The incident was classified as a mass accident due to the number of victims involved and the need for a coordinated response from several agencies to manage it," the officer detailed.
Presence of authorities at the site
High-ranking officials from the area traveled to the site of the incident to oversee the rescue operations and care for the injured.
Among them were Brigadier General Israel Cubertier Valdés, head of the Villa Clara Military Region; Colonel Orelvis Fernández Puig, provincial head of Minint; as well as Susely Morfa González, first secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Party, and Governor Milaxy Yanet Sánchez Armas.
The presence of municipal leaders, specialized units from the Fire Department, personnel from MININT, and health staff demonstrated the scale of the emergency and the multisectoral response that was activated in response to the event.
A concerning road scenario
This accident occurs against a backdrop of growing concern about road safety in Villa Clara.
According to official data, the province ended the year 2025 with more than 500 traffic accidents, a figure that represents a significant increase compared to 2024, with nearly one hundred additional incidents.
The deterioration of the situation has raised alarm among authorities and specialists, who identify Villa Clara as one of the regions with the worst traffic accident rates in the country.
Accidents increased by more than a third during 2025, according to the disclosed reports, reinforcing calls for greater caution.
Among the main causes identified by the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) and the Provincial Traffic Directorate are:
-The fatigue of the driver and other forms of distraction while driving.
-Disrespect for the right of way.
-Pedestrian violations.
-The lack of technical maintenance on private and state vehicles.
In particular, accidents caused by drowsiness at the wheel have been on the rise, a phenomenon linked to long driving hours, insufficient monitoring of rest periods, and, in many cases, the pressure to adhere to schedules under precarious conditions.
As of the closing of this note, there is no additional information regarding the tragic event.
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