A bus traveling along Calzada de Diez de Octubre in Havana on Tuesday collided with a classic car, known locally as an almendrón, causing minor damage to other vehicles waiting at the busy and hazardous Esquina de Toyo intersection. The condition of the occupants of the almendrón, which sustained significant impact on its left side, remains unknown, though no serious injuries were reported.
A brief video posted in the Facebook group Accidentes Buses & Camiones showed the severity of the collision, with red paint from the almendrón smeared on the bus. "The bus was descending and overtaking from the right lane. It hit the vehicles waiting at the traffic light from behind and then veered into the opposite lane, hitting the red car," recounted a witness in the Facebook group.
"I was in the green car that the bus hit from behind. Fortunately, I only suffered minor injuries," stated Rodney González. Another witness, who passed by the area after the accident, confirmed there were no fatalities and that "the driver" was unharmed.
According to this testimony, the bus driver claimed that the brakes had failed, leading to the collision with the vehicles waiting at the traffic light and subsequently crashing into the almendrón. As of the time of writing, no further details about the incident have emerged. The crash is considered minor, especially given the recent surge in severe accidents across the country, many of them fatal.
In one of the most recent cases, seven people were injured, one critically, following a collision on Monday between a truck belonging to a Mipyme (a small and medium-sized enterprise) and an almendrón on the Carretera Central near Ciego de Ávila. Additionally, on Wednesday, a motorcyclist died after colliding with a truck at the intersection of 41 and 30 in the Playa municipality of Havana.
Despite the public's perception of an increase in traffic accidents in recent months, Cuban authorities reported at the beginning of this month that there were 543 fewer incidents in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year. On the official television program Mesa Redonda, Colonel Roberto Rodríguez Fernández, head of the Specialized Transit Unit of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), also noted that there were 81 fewer fatalities (a 23% reduction) and 151 fewer injuries (a 5% reduction) between January and June of this year compared to the same period in 2023.
Understanding the Recent Traffic Accidents in Cuba
The recent spate of traffic accidents in Cuba has raised numerous questions and concerns. Below are some frequently asked questions to provide clarity on the situation.
What caused the bus to collide with the almendrón in Havana?
According to the bus driver, the brakes failed, causing the bus to hit the vehicles waiting at the traffic light and subsequently crash into the almendrón.
Were there any serious injuries in the Havana bus and almendrón collision?
No serious injuries were reported from the collision. The condition of the occupants of the almendrón remains unknown, but it appears there were no significant injuries.
Have traffic accidents increased in Cuba recently?
Although there is a public perception of an increase in traffic accidents, Cuban authorities reported a decrease of 543 incidents in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year.