A severe accident occurred on Wednesday night involving a passenger truck and a tourist rental car, resulting in at least three fatalities and an undetermined number of injuries in the province of Ciego de Ávila.
The deceased include the truck driver, Hugo Triao, known as "Jugo," whose death has deeply affected the trucking community in Santiago de Cuba. The truck was from Mayarí Arriba, in the municipality of Segundo Frente, where the victim also resided.
While official information about the crash is still pending, various posts in the Facebook group Accidentes Buses & Camiones have helped piece together some details. A user familiar with the incident mentioned that the other two victims were a married couple traveling in the tourist car, accompanied by a child who is critically injured.
"The truck lost or burst a tire and collided with a tourist car carrying a couple from Gaspar and their young child. The couple died, as did the truck driver, who was from Oriente," said Mily Díaz. She added that the child in the tourist car "is in bad shape."
Regarding the co-driver of the truck, reports indicate he suffered a head injury and several bruises but is alive. The number of passengers in the truck remains unclear; one user suggested there were 29, but this has yet to be confirmed.
"My daughter was there. The truck collided with a tour car carrying a couple and a child. The child reportedly broke one or two of his feet; the mother died, and I don't know about the father. The truck driver was shattered," said another commenter, mentioning that there were some minor injuries among the truck passengers, though she did not specify how many.
According to the same source, the truck driver was "driving under the influence of alcohol," a claim not yet corroborated by other sources. She also noted that "the truck had been stopped earlier and told he was speeding." Disturbing images show the red truck crashed with such force against a tree that it took authorities several hours to extract the deceased driver from the cab.
In the comments section of various posts, several drivers urged others to reduce their speed on the road. One commenter noted that the ultimate cause of these tragic accidents is speeding, regardless of other factors, concluding that "at lower speeds, these effects wouldn't occur 99 percent of the time."
"I don't know if it was the truck's or the tourist car's fault or a technical failure, but it seems to me that if they had been driving at the prescribed speed limit, we wouldn't have to mourn the loss of human lives," another user concurred.
Some pointed out that trucks are meant for transporting cargo and animals, not people. Despite such remarks, many colleagues of the truck driver emphasized that he was an experienced driver.
As of the time of this report, the information remains preliminary.
Details and Implications of the Ciego de Ávila Accident
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the tragic accident in Ciego de Ávila.
What caused the accident in Ciego de Ávila?
The accident was reportedly caused by a tire issue on the passenger truck, which then collided with a tourist rental car.
Who were the victims of the accident?
The victims were the truck driver Hugo Triao, and a married couple traveling in the tourist car. Their child was critically injured.
Were there any survivors?
Yes, the co-driver of the truck survived with a head injury and several bruises, and the child in the tourist car is critically injured but alive.
What were the conditions leading to the accident?
It is suggested that the truck driver was under the influence of alcohol and speeding, although these claims have not been officially confirmed.