The University Student Federation (FEU) of the University of Medical Sciences of Guantánamo and the educational institution itself announced this Sunday the passing of Anderson Vega Cala, a sixth-year medical student at the Medical Sciences Branch of Baracoa,
Vega Cala, born in 2002, reportedly died in a motorcycle accident, according to comments on the Facebook posts.
The FEU of the institution of higher education expressed its sorrow in a brief statement in which it stated that "his example of dedication, joy, and commitment will remain in the memory of all. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues."
The young man's cousin, Ever Luis Cintra Samón, dedicated a heartfelt farewell also on Facebook, where he stated that "we are left with the deep pain of your death [...] but we will never forget you."
As of the time of the publication of the institutional condolences, the exact circumstances of the incident had not been disclosed. There is also no official statement from the Cuban transit or health authorities regarding the case.
The medical program in Cuba lasts six years, which means that Anderson Vega Cala was in the final stretch of his training, about to graduate as a doctor.
The death is part of a pattern of high traffic accident rates in Cuba, particularly related to motorcycles. The province of Guantánamo has recorded several cases of medical personnel and students who have died in traffic accidents in recent years: in September 2025, cardiologist Edy Abreu Guzmán died at the Hospital de Baracoa following a traffic accident. In December 2022, Dr. Mirka Rodríguez Monges died on the Guantánamo-Baracoa road while traveling as a passenger on a motorcycle.
In mid-last month, the news broke about the death of Elio Antonio Govea Rodríguez, a professor at the University of Pinar del Río, an adjunct professor at that institution and a founding figure of the Industrial Engineering program, which was also the result of a motorcycle accident.
Nationally, accident statistics show an upward trend. Traffic accidents in Cuba resulted in 750 fatalities and 6,718 injuries during 2025, according to official figures presented by the National Road Safety Commission.
According to the reported data, motorcycles, mopeds, and pedestrians were involved in 63% of the accidents, which highlights an increased risk for those traveling with less physical protection on a severely deteriorated road infrastructure shared with larger vehicles.
The widespread use of motorcycles in Cuba has surged in recent years due to the collapse of public transportation, increasing the risk for both riders and passengers, many of whom are young.
In the first quarter of 2026, 1,234 accidents, 153 fatalities, and 1,154 injuries were reported, with motorcycles, mopeds, and pedestrians involved in 74% of these incidents.
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