A CUPET truck, responsible for transporting liquefied gas cylinders, collided with a car and overturned this Wednesday in a bustling intersection in Vedado, Havana, due to a non-functional traffic light caused by a power outage.
"Right now, at the intersection of Línea and 12. The gas delivery truck was coming down 12th Street, and without a traffic light, it took the right of way from the Pontiac," reported a witness on Facebook.
A photo captured the state-owned Unión Cuba Petróleo truck overturned on Línea Street, with all four traffic lights (both vehicular and pedestrian) out, likely due to a blackout in the area. The image does not confirm whether the truck was loaded with gas cylinders, nor does the post provide that detail. Some users claimed firefighters arrived but did not take action.
In the comments, an eyewitness mentioned that the three individuals in the truck "are okay, just minor injuries, and are still at the accident scene." There is no information on whether the car's driver sustained any injuries from the crash.
Community Outrage Over Traffic Management
"Drivers, in Cuba, traffic lights are often out, and the police are occupied elsewhere, so exercise extreme caution," warned the post's author. This sparked a wave of criticism regarding the non-functioning traffic lights—due to frequent power outages—and the absence of police to manage traffic under these circumstances.
"Virtually all the traffic lights are non-operational, and not a single 'caballito' (motorcycle police) directing traffic. This was an avoidable accident," expressed one man, a sentiment echoed by several others who commented on the post.
One local resident emphasized that the corner is "one of the most dangerous, especially without power," and criticized the authorities: "The police couldn't care less. Thankfully, those in the truck are fine. They only direct traffic when the country’s elite are passing through."
Driver Responsibility and Road Safety Concerns
Many also pointed out the drivers' responsibility in such accidents. "When there's no light, even if you have the right of way, you must ensure no one else is coming and don't assume they will stop. It could be a tourist, an inexperienced driver, or a speedster like Fangio or Schumacher," emphasized a user. "That's a big mistake; there are signs and they are not respected, and the lack of road discipline is significant," warned another.
Social media has documented several incidents involving CUPET trucks carrying liquefied gas cylinders that have overturned, possibly due to the heavy loads they transport.
In June of the previous year, one of these trucks overturned at the entrance to the Antonio Maceo district in Santiago de Cuba, prompting a fire brigade response. The cylinders were empty, and the driver was unharmed. Earlier in 2023, another truck experienced a similar accident in the Diez de Octubre municipality in Havana. CUPET reported no injuries or gas leaks in that incident.