Cyclist Under Medical Observation After Collision with Motorcycle in Camagüey Roundabout

A man riding a bicycle was placed under medical observation on Saturday after being struck by a 125cc motorcycle driven by a young individual at the roundabout near the Oncology Hospital in Camagüey, according to reports by journalist José Luis Tan Estrada on social media.

The cyclist, identified as 53-year-old Joel Espín Hernández, was urgently transported to the Provincial Hospital of Camagüey for medical attention, as detailed by Tan Estrada on his Facebook profile.

"The police later arrived at the scene. According to known details, those involved expressed concern over the incident and offered to help repair the bicycle and cover the cost of medications," he noted.

In an earlier post, the reporter mentioned that the motorcycle's driver was a minor, though this version was contested in comments by someone claiming to be a neighbor of the individual involved.

"I'm the neighbor of the motorcycle guy; HE IS NOT A MINOR AND THE CYCLIST WAS AT FAULT," wrote the neighbor. The journalist maintained his version, stating, "The gentleman did not observe a Stop sign."

A commenter, who claimed to be close to the motorcycle driver, noted that the young man "was very worried and took responsibility for the incident," using it as an opportunity to criticize the bureaucratic hurdles of the system: "We gain nothing by making it hard to obtain a driver's license, which is crucial for preventing accidents; if training were conducted without so much red tape and complex procedures, many issues could be avoided."

Public Outcry Over Traffic Safety in Camagüey

The incident sparked a significant public debate on social media. Several residents highlighted the impunity with which unlicensed drivers operate.

"Most people driving motorbikes and modern motorcycles do not have a license. They drive recklessly," one citizen commented.

Another person pointed out, "Adults who do this are much more irresponsible than the young person driving." A third commenter reminded that Law 109 holds parents legally accountable when a minor drives on public roads, criticizing that "the police have become too lenient."

The accident adds to a series of recent crashes in Camagüey. In mid-September, a motorcyclist died and a woman was seriously injured at another city roundabout after crashing into a column.

Days later, a mass accident on the Central Highway resulted in one death and eight injuries when a Viazul bus collided with a broken-down truck.

According to the National Commission for Road Safety, Cuba recorded 750 fatalities in traffic accidents in 2025, compared to 634 in 2024, marking an 18.3% increase.

Motorcycles and mopeds were involved in 63% of the incidents, with 31% of the drivers lacking a license.

In the first quarter of this year, authorities in Villa Clara intensified controls due to the increasing number of minors driving electric mopeds without helmets or authorization.

Article 93 of the Road Safety Code not only establishes legal responsibility for those driving without a license but also for adults who provide a vehicle to someone unauthorized to drive it.