On Monday, a collision between two motorcycles on the National Highway in Santiago de Cuba resulted in at least three people being injured, including a young man who required surgical intervention.
According to reports by journalist Yosmany Mayeta, several individuals sustained injuries following a motorcycle crash on a stretch of the highway in Santiago de Cuba province. In a Facebook comment, a young woman confirmed that three people were injured: two men and a woman.
Mayeta identified one of the injured as Julio César de Armas, 32, who suffered severe leg injuries and was undergoing surgery at the Juan Bruno Zayas Clinical-Surgical Hospital in Santiago de Cuba's capital at the time of the report. An eyewitness who saw him arrive at the hospital's emergency room noted that he did not look "well at all," with a "very swollen face and a shattered leg."
The journalist stated that he had no additional information about the other injured individuals. The causes of the accident remain unknown, though it occurred on the National Highway segment between Tropicana and the San Juan bridge, as per an online source.
Speculation on the Causes
Several people expressed skepticism about how such a collision could happen on a broad, dual-lane highway, while others attributed it to excessive driving speed.
Recent Motorcycle Accidents
There have been numerous motorcycle accidents reported in recent months. Mid-month, a crash between a motorcycle and a truck in Santiago de Cuba injured a young woman, though her injuries were not life-threatening. Reports suggest one of the drivers ignored a "Stop" sign.
In Regla, a municipality in Havana, a collision between a motorcyclist and a cyclist resulted in serious injuries for both, who were taken to the local clinic due to a lack of ambulances for hospital transport. The accident was likely caused by a large pothole in one of the town’s main roads.
Also in Havana, a motorcyclist collided with a car's windshield after the vehicle swerved into the wrong lane, witnesses said. The motorcyclist was injured and taken to a hospital.
Official Statistics
Official data noted a 13% decrease in traffic accidents (543 fewer) in Cuba during the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2023. A report from the Ministry of the Interior's Specialized Traffic Unit indicated that motorcycles and mopeds were involved in fewer accidents during the first six months of 2024, according to the state-run Cubadebate.
Overall, vehicle drivers were responsible for 52% of accidents, 75% of fatalities, and 55% of injuries, based on official statistics.