A non-operational traffic light in Havana led to a collision on Friday between a motorbike and a microbus taxi, commonly referred to as 'gacelas'. The crash resulted in injuries to the motorcyclist, whose current condition remains unknown as of the time of this report.
The incident took place around 12:30 PM at the busy intersection of 19th and 42nd Avenues in Playa municipality. According to a Twitter user, ASERE YA, the traffic light was not functioning due to a lack of electricity, and no police officers were present to direct traffic as required.
Witnesses Describe the Scene
"A young man was traveling straight on 19th Avenue when the gacela struck him with significant force," described an eyewitness in a tweet.
The injured rider lay in the street, with passing cars—both state-owned and private—failing to stop and offer assistance, as captured in a video shared online. "No vehicles stopped; the video shows numerous cars passing by without responding to cries for help until a kind-hearted person took him to the hospital. An ambulance arrived 30 to 40 minutes after the injured man had already been transported, rendering it useless," the tweet detailed.
Concerns Over Emergency Response
One witness reported that the young man was still alive but severely dazed by the impact. "May God intervene and heal the young man," the witness wished.
An online commentator remarked on the dire state of emergency response in Cuba, noting that relying on an ambulance can be fatal, leading people to make the critical mistake of moving injured individuals themselves.
Debate Over Traffic Regulations
Regarding the cause of the accident, another tweet claimed that the gacela had the right of way, as it was traveling on 42nd Avenue. "In Cuba, most motorbike riders lack proper driving skills and disregard traffic laws. However, it's disgraceful that there are no officers present at intersections with non-functional traffic lights due to power outages," criticized one user.