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Cuban Driver Arrested After Fleeing Fatal Accident in Jagüey Grande

Friday, July 19, 2024 by Daniel Colon

Cuban Driver Arrested After Fleeing Fatal Accident in Jagüey Grande
Cuban patrol (left) and Site of the accident in which two people died (right) - Image by © Wikimedia - Facebook/Suney San Román

The driver who fled the scene of a traffic accident in Jagüey Grande, Matanzas, which resulted in two fatalities, has been apprehended, according to the officialist Facebook profile "Con todos la Victoria".

"On the night of the 13th, at kilometer 143 of the National Highway, a traffic accident occurred between a car and a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of two people. The car's driver, who fled the scene, was found to be at fault," the source revealed.

The report identifies the driver as Maikel García Jiménez, who was arrested on Tuesday, July 16, in Sancti Spíritus.

"Investigations revealed that he has a history of theft, illegal economic activities, and public disorder. Now, he faces a more severe charge," the officialist media concluded, without providing further details about the accident or the identities of the victims.

According to previous social media reports, the crash involved a modern rental car and a motorcycle.

In the Facebook group "Yo Jagüey", user Suney San Román stated that, along with the two deceased, a local woman was injured and is currently hospitalized in the provincial hospital.

San Román also detailed that three people were on the tour: one died upon arrival at the medical center, and the other two fled the scene.

Comments on the post identified one of the deceased—presumably the motorcycle rider—as "Carlitos", a family man who worked at the state-owned company Cubataxi.

Recent weeks have seen a high number of accidents in Cuba, many of them fatal. However, Cuban authorities recently reported that 543 fewer traffic accidents occurred in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year.

On the officialist TV program Mesa Redonda, Colonel Roberto Rodríguez Fernández, head of the Specialized Traffic Organ of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), stated that there were also 81 fewer deaths (23%) and a reduction of 151 injuries (5%) from January to June compared to the same months in 2023.

Details on the Jagüey Grande Fatal Accident

To provide more context on the recent fatal accident in Jagüey Grande, we have compiled some frequently asked questions and their answers.

Who was arrested for the fatal accident in Jagüey Grande?

Maikel García Jiménez was arrested for his involvement in the accident and fleeing the scene.

What were the circumstances of the accident?

The accident occurred at kilometer 143 of the National Highway and involved a car colliding with a motorcycle, resulting in two deaths.

How have traffic accidents trended in Cuba recently?

Despite a high number of recent accidents, Cuban authorities reported a decrease of 543 accidents and 81 fatalities in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year.

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