At least three people were injured in a traffic accident on Tuesday night after two motorcycles collided near the San Juan Bridge in Santiago de Cuba city. The causes of the accident are still unknown, but "it is suspected that some individuals were under the influence of alcohol," wrote journalist Yosmany Mayeta on Facebook, who reported on the incident.
Two of the injured are being treated at the Juan Bruno Zayas Clinical-Surgical Hospital, while the third is at the Saturnino Lora Provincial Hospital. One of the injured has been identified as Yilian Carbonell Gallo, a young mother who was riding as a passenger on one of the motorcycles involved in the crash.
"She has a fractured pelvis, a knee injury, lacerations on her fingers, bruises, and contusions on her arms from the impact. She has been immobilized and will remain under observation at the hospital," a family member told the aforementioned source. The driver of the motorcycle Yilian was on has been identified as "Jose" and has fractures in his legs and arm; he is scheduled for surgery but is stable and not at further risk, the source added.
Details about the other driver, who is admitted at the Saturnino Lora, have not been disclosed. "He wasn't brought here. We don't know much about him, only that he became unruly and was allegedly brandishing a gun, claiming he was a police officer, but we have no confirmation of this," Mayeta reported based on his source's testimony.
As of the close of this report, no additional details about the accident have emerged. This incident adds to a growing list of road accidents that have marred Cuban roads this summer.
In recent weeks, there has been a worrying rise in severe traffic incidents across the country, many of them tragically fatal. However, despite the public perception of increasing traffic accidents in recent months, Cuban authorities stated at the beginning of July 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 Traffic Authority of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), also reported 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.
Key Details About the Motorcycle Accident in Santiago de Cuba
This section provides answers to some common questions about the recent motorcycle collision in Santiago de Cuba.
What were the suspected causes of the motorcycle accident?
The causes of the accident are still unknown, but it is suspected that some individuals involved were under the influence of alcohol.
Where are the injured individuals being treated?
Two of the injured are being treated at the Juan Bruno Zayas Clinical-Surgical Hospital, and the third is at the Saturnino Lora Provincial Hospital.
Who are the identified injured individuals?
One of the injured has been identified as Yilian Carbonell Gallo, a young mother. The driver of the motorcycle she was on has been identified as "Jose".
What is the current situation with traffic accidents in Cuba?
Despite a perceived increase in traffic accidents, Cuban authorities reported a reduction of 543 incidents, 81 fatalities, and 151 injuries in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.