Cuban Pedestrian Fatally Struck on Highway

In a tragic event on Tuesday morning, a Cuban man lost his life while attempting to cross the Pinar del Río-Havana highway near the Las Ovas bridge. According to an eyewitness who reported the incident on the Facebook group "Accidents Buses & Trucks," the individual was hit by a Jeep Waz from the construction company ATTAI. The accident, which has not yet been accompanied by images, sparked a wave of comments on social media, where users expressed concern over the rising number of traffic accidents and pedestrian fatalities in Cuba.

Yalesky Serrano, who reported the tragic incident, emphasized the severity of the scene. "I didn't take photos because they were graphic images that could be distressing," Serrano noted. He also mentioned that the vehicle's driver had no chance to avoid the collision. "Drivers, stay alert; many people are distracted, and it can turn our lives into a nightmare," he warned, while also extending condolences to the victim's family. "Justice should be served, and the driver should be exonerated as he was not at fault," he added.

Concerns were raised by one social media user regarding the speed at which the vehicle might have been traveling, though others reminded that it would be up to the proper authorities to determine the exact causes of the accident. "Forensic experts will have the final word; everything else is speculation," commented one user. Social media discussions highlighted the importance of cautious driving and vigilance towards pedestrians, particularly in areas where people cross.

As of this report, no further details about the incident have been released. This accident is not an isolated case, as another pedestrian was struck on Monday in Jicotea, Ciego de Ávila province. A Yutong bus from the National Bus Service, operating on the Morón-Santa Clara route, hit a man who suddenly crossed its path. The eyewitness reported that the pedestrian attempted to cross the street without noticing the bus's approach. The victim was taken to the hospital with injuries, though his current condition remains unknown.

Accident statistics in Cuba are alarming. Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, the Minister of Transport, shared on Facebook that by the end of January, there were 87 fewer accidents (422 in total) and two fewer injuries (552 in total) compared to the same period in 2024. However, the number of fatalities increased to 65, which is six more than the previous year.

The most common type of accident continues to be vehicle collisions, with 260 cases resulting in 28 fatalities and 226 injuries. This is followed by rollovers, which accounted for 67 accidents, 13 deaths, and 125 injuries, and pedestrian accidents with 66 incidents, 9 deaths, and 63 injuries. On average, two pedestrian accidents occur daily in Cuba, with a fatality every six days, mostly in urban areas such as Havana, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba.

In January alone, five severe accidents were reported, resulting in 19 deaths and 173 injuries, primarily affecting young people between the ages of 21 and 35 (30%) and minors under 18 (10%). The Minister pointed out that 80% of these accidents occurred in rural areas on well-maintained roads with favorable weather conditions, reinforcing the belief that human error is the primary cause. Rodríguez emphasized that human factors are overwhelmingly responsible for accidents in Cuba, accounting for 92% of accidents, 98% of deaths, and 91% of injuries.