The tragic collision that occurred early Monday morning in Ciego de Ávila, involving two buses transporting state workers, has been attributed to the driver of a Yutong bus. The bus, originating from the main municipality, was found responsible for the accident, as confirmed by Granma this Wednesday. Captain Norge Pérez Fraga, the deputy chief of Police Investigation in the province, explained that a "thorough investigation at the scene" revealed that the driver of the offending vehicle—traveling south to north—"obstructed the path of the Transmetro bus, which was heading in the opposite direction, amid dense fog that severely limited visibility."
The driver, one of the initial fatalities, allegedly violated a section of Law 109, the Road and Transportation Code. However, the official source did not specify which particular article was breached. Tragically, the official death toll from the disaster has now risen from six to seven. On Tuesday, Michel Rodríguez Hernández, aged 34 and employed at the Playa Coco hotel, succumbed to his injuries at the Roberto Rodríguez hospital in Morón.
Among the injured, Aniuska Planché Speck, 38, from the municipality of Ciro Redondo, remains in critical condition. Additionally, six other injured individuals are being treated at the Antonio Luaces Iraola hospital in Ciego de Ávila, five of whom are in serious condition, though their identities have not been disclosed. Dr. Livania Lozano Lezcano, the chief of the Director's office at the hospital, informed Granma that "a number of patients are still hospitalized at Roberto Rodríguez," although the exact number was not specified.
The incident, which took place on the Morón-Isla de Turiguanó highway, initially resulted in six fatalities (four at the scene and two at the hospital) and 59 injuries. In addition to the victim who died on Tuesday, the deceased include drivers Yuniester Oliva Artiles and Yohelvis Reino Veitía from Ciego de Ávila, and workers Ezequiel Días Matos (Baraguá), Daniel Trujillo Rodríguez (Morón), Yaensy Conde Vega, and Javier Hernández Zamora (both from Ciro Redondo).
Shortly after the crash, official media incorrectly reported the death toll as 11, but later revised it back to six. On social media, acquaintances of the victims have mentioned improvements in some of the injured, yet official reports have not confirmed any discharges.
Following the accident, there was a significant response from the public who rushed to donate blood at the authorities' request. According to the National Commission on Road Safety, the previous year saw 7,507 traffic accidents, a 12% decrease compared to 2023’s 8,556. Deaths also fell by 13% (634), and injuries decreased by 4% (6,613) compared to the previous year’s incidents.
Despite these promising statistics, January has been a particularly grim month on Cuban roads. Just four days earlier, an accident on the National Highway near Aguada de Pasajeros, Cienfuegos, resulted in two deaths, including an Italian tourist, and seven injuries. Authorities continue to stress that driver violations are the primary cause of accidents, followed by poor road conditions due to lack of maintenance and the aging vehicle fleet, with an average age of 40 to 70 years.
Key Questions About Recent Traffic Accidents in Cuba
What was the main cause of the accident in Ciego de Ávila?
The accident was primarily caused by the driver of a Yutong bus who obstructed the path of another bus amid severe fog, resulting in a collision.
How many people have died as a result of the Ciego de Ávila crash?
The death toll from the crash has risen to seven individuals.
What are the common causes of traffic accidents in Cuba?
Traffic accidents in Cuba are often caused by driver violations, poor road conditions due to lack of maintenance, and an aging vehicle fleet.