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A 19-month-old baby was seriously injured on Saturday after a van crashed into the wall of the Cuba restaurant and bar, located at 915 North 27th Street, Nebraska, according to the Lincoln Police Department.
The accident happened at 11:52 in the morning, during lunchtime, when the venue was full of customers and employees.
According to authorities, a 19-year-old driver of a white van suffered a medical emergency and lost consciousness while heading north on North 27th Street from Vine Street, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and crash into the east side of the building, leaving a large hole in the wall.
The baby, who was inside the restaurant at the time of the impact, received initial care at a hospital in Lincoln and was later transferred to Omaha for additional treatment due to the severity of his injuries.
Several people traveling in the van and other restaurant patrons reported minor injuries.
The Lincoln Journal Star described the impact as a strike that left "a large hole open in the restaurant that the police cordoned off."
The Building and Safety Department of Lincoln determined that the structure was damaged and unsafe for occupancy, so the restaurant had to close its doors until the necessary repairs are made.
The preliminary investigation indicates that the driver's medical emergency was the cause of the accident. So far, no charges have been filed against the 19-year-old.
This type of incident is not exclusive to Lincoln. In October 2025, a white Tesla crashed into the terrace of Norman's Tavern in Miami Beach, on Collins Avenue. On that occasion, the establishment was closed and there were no injuries.
El Cuba Restaurant and Bar is part of the small Cuban community located in Nebraska, which, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, has approximately 1,200 individuals of Cuban descent throughout the state, many of whom are drawn by job opportunities and the low cost of living.
The Cuban presence in that region has grown in recent years. Stories like that of a Cuban woman who braved the snow in Nebraska wearing summer clothes or another who shared how her life changed upon arriving in the United States reflect the adaptation of that community in the American Midwest.
The Lincoln Police continue to investigate the accident and are requesting information from the public at the number 402-441-6000.
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