A young motorist was seriously injured this Sunday after colliding with an animal-drawn cart in front of the Ambrosio Grillo Portuondo Clinical Surgical Hospital in El Cobre, Santiago de Cuba.
According to independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, the young man was identified as Lonier Chacón Zamora and was in very serious condition after being urgently taken to the operating room. The reporter also noted that several people traveling in the cart were injured.
The collision occurred on the road connecting El Cobre to Palma Soriano, a route used simultaneously by motorcycles, cars, and animals-drawn vehicles, making it a high-risk corridor during nighttime hours, the report stated.
Several testimonies collected from the area agree that Chacón Zamora was riding his motorcycle when the collision with the horse-drawn cart occurred. "After the impact, the motorcyclist ended up underneath the cart and received a strong blow to the chest," recounted one source. Another testimony indicates that the shaft of the animal-drawn vehicle had directly struck the young man.
The images of the scene reveal the extent of the accident: the motorcycle was severely damaged, with several parts scattered on the pavement, while the cart remained stopped at the location.
Around four people were traveling in the cart. Several of its occupants, including women, were injured and were taken to Santiago de Cuba for medical attention.
"The most concerning situation continues to be that of Lonier Chacón Zamora, who, according to the latest information received, was urgently taken to the operating room and is in very serious condition," specified Mayeta Labrada.
"Up to this moment—emphasized the journalist—there is no official version that allows us to ascertain exactly how the collision occurred or to assign responsibilities," which is why any account regarding the speed of the motorcycle or the culpability of any of those involved should be considered preliminary.
"Local sources report that the area was completely dark due to a blackout and that even the Ambrosio Grillo Hospital was without power at that time," added Mayeta Labrada. According to accounts, only after the serious accident was the electricity restored to facilitate the emergency care of the young man.
The accident occurs within the context of a severe energy crisis that has plagued Santiago de Cuba throughout 2026. The provincial Electric Company admitted in June that it could barely guarantee one or two hours of electrical service per day, meaning outages could last up to 22 hours. Just a few days later, the province experienced nearly 48 hours of blackout following a total disconnection from the National Electroenergy System.
The incident this Sunday is not an isolated event in the province. On August 8, young Leandry Osorio fell into a coma with an uncertain prognosis after a motorcycle accident on the Ciudamar Highway in Santiago de Cuba. Nationally, the official statistics for 2025 recorded 7,538 traffic accidents, with 750 fatalities and 6,718 injuries, indicating that motorcycles, mopeds, and pedestrians were involved in 63% of the incidents.
At the time this information was published, no official medical report had been released regarding the condition of Lonier Chacón Zamora or the status of the other injured individuals, Mayeta Labrada stated.
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