A car plunged into a massive trench left open by the company Aguas de La Habana this Friday in the Cerro municipality, causing significant damage to its bodywork.
The accident occurred at the intersection of Santa Catalina Street and Boyeros Avenue, near the Ciudad Deportiva, on the border of the Plaza and Cerro municipalities.
“Accident at Santa Catalina and Boyeros. The company Aguas de La Habana dug up the street for repairs and, as usual, [did not place] any signage informing about the work,” reported a user in the Facebook group ‘Accidentes Buses & Camiones’
Images shared by the user revealed the extent of the incident, showing the car completely damaged after falling into the trench. As the reporter indicated, no signage was visible at the site to warn about the state of the road.
At the time of writing, neither the authorities nor the state-run media have addressed the incident. The reasons why the car ended up in the trench remain unknown, apart from the lack of warning signs or barriers to prevent it.
In the comments on the post, many drivers criticized the lack of proper signage, while some speculated that the car might have been speeding. Most agreed that no one would compensate the car owner for the damages.
This is not the first time that Aguas de La Habana has carried out public works without placing warning signs, leading to similar accidents.
Previous Incidents Involving Aguas de La Habana
In October 2022, a car fell into a large trench at the intersection of Vento and Aranguren streets in Cerro, which according to witnesses, had been excavated by Aguas de La Habana.
“That’s at Vento and Aranguren, a hole that Aguas de La Habana dug one day when they were working on the pipeline supplying the La Guayaba neighborhood and never closed,” clarified a user in the same Facebook group.
Several forum members commented that the vehicle’s driver had likely never passed through the area before, as the trench had been there for a long time. “That hole is a landmark on that street; I’m tired of seeing it,” said one commenter.
In May of the same year, a truck from Comunales fell into a large trench excavated by Aguas de La Habana in the Dolores neighborhood, located in the area known as Caballo Blanco.
“Drivers shouldn’t have to face such risks. These works should be completed as soon as possible and properly signaled to avoid such disasters,” said a user in the same Facebook group.
The author of the post questioned the state of the street, filled with mud and water from the rain and debris left by Aguas de La Habana, which completely buried the hole.
“There are more than four holes in that section. It’s a trench over 100 meters long filled with mud and covered in murky water (the perfect mix for disaster), and just at the next corner, there’s another hole buried in soft mud where more than one person has gotten stuck, and that one has been there for years without being fixed,” he detailed.
Questions and Answers about Aguas de La Habana's Street Excavations
Here are some common questions and answers regarding the ongoing issues with Aguas de La Habana's street excavations and the resulting accidents:
Why do accidents frequently occur in areas worked on by Aguas de La Habana?
Accidents often happen because Aguas de La Habana frequently fails to place proper warning signs or barriers around their work sites, leaving dangerous conditions on the roads.
What measures can be taken to prevent such accidents?
To prevent these accidents, it is crucial for Aguas de La Habana to complete their work promptly and ensure that all work sites are properly signaled with appropriate signs and barriers.
Has there been any response from authorities regarding these incidents?
As of now, neither the authorities nor the state-run media have addressed these incidents, leaving many questions unanswered about the responsibility and future prevention of such accidents.