A car was completely wrecked after being struck by a train on Sunday night at a level crossing in Santa Clara, Villa Clara, according to preliminary reports that confirm there were no casualties in the accident. Images shared in the Facebook group “Accidentes Buses & Camiones por más experiencia y menos víctimas!” show the disastrous state of the modern Hyundai vehicle, which was hit by the Habana-Santiago train, according to a user.
The author of the post mentioned that only material damages occurred, and several others corroborated that no one was injured in the collision. Further details about the incident have not been disclosed, but it is presumed that the car’s driver failed to stop at the railroad crossing signal, a common cause of similar accidents in Cuba recently.
In February, a rental car for tourists was hit by a train at the Vento railway crossing in the province of Havana, with no casualties reported. Later, at the end of October 2023, two people died in separate accidents involving the same train, the Habana-Holguín train, during its journey through Perico, in Matanzas, and Jatibonico, in Sancti Spíritus.
In the first incident, in the Matanzas locality, a car driver attempted to cross the tracks as the train approached but was unable to clear the crossing in time, resulting in the car being dragged about 20 meters. The driver died, but the passenger managed to escape and survive. In Jatibonico, the same train ran over a man who apparently committed suicide by jumping onto the tracks, according to eyewitnesses.
In recent weeks, various types of accidents have been reported in Cuba, many of them fatal. Last Saturday, two people died in a collision between a motorcycle and a rental car at kilometer 144 of the National Highway, near the municipality of Jagüey Grande, in Matanzas.
Although the public perceives an increase in traffic accidents in recent months, Cuban authorities reported that the first half of 2024 saw 543 fewer incidents than the same period the previous year. On the official TV show Mesa Redonda, Colonel Roberto Rodríguez Fernández, head of the Specialized Transit Body of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), also noted that there were 81 fewer fatalities (23%) and 151 fewer injuries (5%) from January to June compared to the same months in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions about Traffic Accidents in Cuba
Given the increasing concern over traffic accidents in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers to provide more context and understanding.
What caused the recent train-car collision in Santa Clara?
Preliminary reports suggest that the collision occurred because the car’s driver did not stop at the railroad crossing signal.
Were there any casualties in the Santa Clara train accident?
No, there were no casualties reported in the train-car collision in Santa Clara.
How have recent traffic accidents in Cuba affected public perception?
The public perceives an increase in traffic accidents, although authorities report a decrease in incidents and casualties in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.