An intense collision between two vehicles at an intersection in the Santos Suárez neighborhood of Havana on Sunday resulted in one car flipping over, though there appear to be no reported injuries. Reports on Facebook highlighted the traffic accident that occurred in the morning at the junction of Juan Bruno Zayas and General Lacret streets. A Fiat Polski collided with a Moskvitch, causing the latter to overturn onto its roof from the force of the impact.
Eyewitnesses suggested that the driver of the Moskvitch may have ignored the "STOP" sign positioned on Juan Bruno Zayas, which led to the crash. A bystander mentioned that a pregnant woman was inside the overturned car, but did not provide any details about her condition. It's unclear whether she or any other passengers sustained injuries.
The "Hot Corner" of Santos Suárez
Locals commenting on social media posts described this intersection as the "hot corner," noting that drivers frequently disregard traffic signs and exceed speed limits on both streets. "The hot corner of Santo Suárez—drivers don't respect the Stop sign and speed through," summarized one online user, while others pointed out that many accidents have occurred at this location for the same reason.
Another resident noted that due to frequent accidents, the homeowners at the corner where the "Polaquito" landed have installed a protective barrier. "A taxi crashed into that wall some time ago," she claimed.
Speed and Safety Concerns
Several individuals expressed the opinion that the car overturned because of excessive speed, regardless of ignoring the "STOP" sign. "If they were going slower, it would have been a collision but not a rollover," one person commented, while another warned, "This doesn't happen at 40 or 50 km/h... People still don't grasp the danger to life and the potential consequences."
Other remarks pointed to the absence of horizontal road markings and the need to enforce a 40 km/h speed limit for vehicles traveling on Lacret from the Calzada de 10 de Octubre.
Despite official statistics indicating a 13% reduction in traffic accidents (543 fewer) in Cuba during the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2023, numerous incidents continue to be reported on social media. Many of these involve fatalities, injuries, and significant property damage.