A Cuban woman returning from the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity in El Cobre faced one of the most frightening moments of her life when the truck driver she was traveling with decided to race another vehicle and nearly collided head-on with a cyclist. Known on TikTok as @guajirita.cubana, she shared a video on Monday recounting the incident, which quickly garnered over 21,000 views.
According to her account, the group left early in a car to Santiago de Cuba's terminal, where they boarded a yellow passenger truck for the return trip. Shortly after setting off, the driver began competing for speed against another vehicle. "The driver started racing with another car, he forgot he was carrying people," the young woman recounted.
The situation reached a critical point near Contramaestre when the driver attempted to overtake the other vehicle without noticing a cyclist coming head-on in the opposite direction. The scare was enormous for everyone on board.
"The worst feeling is thinking you're about to die," the video creator described, admitting she cried uncontrollably. "I cried a lot, I still have the image of that moment; it was a desperation I can't explain," she wrote in the video’s description.
Faced with the dangerous situation, she and other passengers decided to get off the truck at Contramaestre and not continue the journey with that driver. "We got off because I wasn't going to stay with that irresponsible driver," she stated.
In her complaint, she highlighted a pattern she believes is common in Santiago's transportation: "I've always been scared of Santiago vehicles because they drive at abnormal speeds, and this time was no exception." She also questioned the economic motivation behind such recklessness: "Drivers don't care about anything just to earn a few more bucks, and in the end, when accidents happen, what they earned won't even cover the damages."
The incident took place just days after the September 8th pilgrimage to El Cobre, a time when the influx of pilgrims from Santiago de Cuba is especially high, and adapted truck transport becomes the only option for many.
This incident is not isolated. Earlier in the year, in January, a passenger truck accident was reported on the Santiago de Cuba highway, precisely on the stretch toward Contramaestre, the same route the young woman describes in her video.
"You need to understand that you are carrying passengers; it's not fair that due to your negligence, lives are put at risk," concluded @guajirita.cubana, encapsulating the desperation of thousands of Cubans who are forced to gamble with their lives daily in transportation.
Understanding Transportation Risks in Cuba
What led to the near-accident involving the Cuban woman?
The near-accident was caused by the truck driver competing in speed with another vehicle, leading to a close call with a cyclist on the road.
Why did the passengers decide to leave the truck?
The passengers chose to disembark at Contramaestre due to the driver's reckless behavior, which made them feel unsafe continuing the journey.
What are the concerns about transportation in Santiago de Cuba?
There is a widespread concern about the excessive speeds at which Santiago vehicles travel, often leading to dangerous situations for passengers.