A collision involving a vintage 1950s American car, commonly referred to in Cuba as an "almendrón," and a motorcycle occurred on Monday night near the iconic Revolution Square in Havana. The incident was initially reported by a Facebook user within the group ‘Accidents Buses & Trucks,’ who shared a video captured from inside a passing bus.
The footage revealed a significant police presence at the scene, likely due to its proximity to important governmental buildings such as the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and the Council of State, located in the Revolution Square area. As of the time of writing, the causes of the accident remain unknown, and it is unclear if there were fatalities or injuries. Neither the authorities nor state-run media outlets have commented on the event.
Increasing Danger of "Almendrones"
These classic cars, which have been on Cuba’s roads for nearly a century, are notorious for their high accident rates. The lack of maintenance and spare parts exacerbates their risk. In recent years, many accidents have involved motorcycles, as their availability has increased since the government allowed their importation and sale to the public.
For example, in August, an almendrón lost its brakes and collided with a motorcycle at the intersection of Calzada de San Agustín and Sofía in the Párraga neighborhood of Arroyo Naranjo, Havana. Another incident in November 2023 left a motorcyclist critically injured after a crash with an almendrón at the traffic light of 114 and 59 in Marianao, Havana. In June of the same year, two individuals were injured in a collision between a classic car and a motorcycle on Vía Blanca, between the Luyanó overpasses and the entrance traffic light to Virgen del Camino.
Motorcycle Accidents on the Rise
Recently, Colonel Roberto Rodríguez Fernández, head of the Specialized Traffic Unit of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), reported that 59% of fatalities from traffic accidents involve cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. "There are now over 400,000 motorbikes used by private individuals," he remarked. The PNR report indicates that "human error" is responsible for 91% of traffic accidents in Cuba in 2023.
In the first eight months of 2020, motorbikes were involved in 1,469 accidents, resulting in 51 deaths and 1,092 injuries. Authorities highlighted that motorcycles are the leading cause of traffic accidents nationwide. Following them, mopeds (vehicles with less than 50 cc and unable to exceed 45 km/h) accounted for 553 accidents, nine deaths, and 336 injuries. Bicycles ranked third with 549 accidents, 39 fatalities, and 408 injuries.