A vintage truck from the 1950s was involved in an accident this Saturday on Cuba's Central Highway, ending up overturned at the side of the road without any reported loss of life. "Central Highway. In the town of Yariguá, Las Tunas. Only material damage," reported a user of the Facebook group 'Accidentes Buses & Camiones' in a post where they shared videos and photos of the incident.
The truck, with license plate P 198 331, had to be righted by a crane that was dispatched to the scene. The images showed a large amount of white powder on the road, which appeared to be a sack of flour. When asked about the vehicle's cargo, the author of the post responded that no passengers were on board, although the truck seemed to be outfitted for transporting people. "Flour and beer is what I could see. It looked like cargo from a Mipyme," they noted.
"There were no passengers; it was food for the new owners of Cuba," commented an alleged eyewitness on the post. A video shared in the aforementioned group showed a cloud of white powder emerging from the truck as it was being righted by the crane.
The town of Yariguá is located to the northeast, at km 11½ of the Central Highway that connects the province of Las Tunas with Camagüey. The causes of the accident in this Consejo Popular are still unknown.
Recent Accidents on Cuba's Central Highway
At the beginning of May, a truck loaded with wheat flour overturned on the Central Highway near Las Tunas, spilling its cargo onto the asphalt. Fortunately, no lives were lost in that incident. Social media images showed the state of the vehicle, a Soviet-made ZIL 130 truck, which was completely overturned with its wheels facing the sky.
Witnesses to the accident claimed that "the truck's rear tires on the driver's side came off, causing it to overturn." The truck's cab, with license plate B 223 975, was completely crushed. However, the driver did not suffer serious injuries.
Amidst the severe shortage of wheat flour plaguing the country, with provinces only guaranteeing pumpkin bread for children under 14, such accidents are even more regrettable.
In mid-February, a trailer transporting a container loaded with boxes of beer, beverages, and other food products overturned in Camagüey. Social media images showed the container at the side of the road, with the cargo scattered across a meadow.
In November of last year, a group of Havana residents, including children, were involved in a sad scene when a truck transporting flour spilled a considerable amount, and they began to collect it from the road. The incident occurred in the municipality of San Miguel del Padrón, before heading onto the road known as the Ocho Vías.
Frequently Asked Questions about Accidents on Cuba's Central Highway
Given the frequency of accidents on Cuba's Central Highway, here are some common questions and answers that may help provide more context and information.
What are the common causes of accidents on Cuba's Central Highway?
Common causes of accidents include poor road conditions, vehicle malfunctions, and overloaded or improperly maintained trucks.
Are there any safety measures in place to prevent these accidents?
While there are traffic regulations, enforcement is often lax, and many vehicles are old and not well-maintained, contributing to frequent accidents.
How do these accidents impact the local communities?
Accidents can disrupt local supply chains, particularly for essential goods like food and beverages, exacerbating existing shortages.