In a tragic event on Saturday, two Cuban nationals lost their lives after being struck by a vehicle in a multi-vehicle collision in Paramaribo, Suriname. The Cubans were riding an electric scooter along Ringweg-Zuid, the city's southern ring road, when a car, which had previously collided with another vehicle, crashed into them, according to preliminary reports from local media.
Sadly, the scooter's rider, a man in his 50s, died instantly from his injuries, while the passenger was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to injuries later. As of now, the identities of the victims remain unconfirmed by CiberCuba.
Reports from Surinamese news outlets indicated that the accident involved three cars and the electric scooter carrying the Cubans. Witnesses described how the driver of a Toyota Lexus overtook the vehicle in front of them, and the driver of a blue Toyota Vitz attempted the same maneuver. The simultaneous actions left little room between the vehicles.
Consequently, the Lexus driver swerved left, colliding with a Mitsubishi Pajero ahead, forcing it further left into the scooter. The impact caused the scooter to crash into an electric pole, resulting in the immediate death of its operator.
Initial media reports mentioned a single scooter occupant, but later confirmations revealed there were two, both foreign nationals. Social media posts by Cubans confirmed the deceased were from Cuba but did not provide further identity details. Many expressed sorrow over the loss of their compatriots, who, like many Cubans in recent years, left the island seeking better life opportunities amid a severe economic crisis.
Pedro García, a Cuban resident in Suriname, expressed condolences on Facebook: “We lost two yesterday in an accident, my deepest sympathy to their families.” García urged fellow Cubans in Suriname to drive carefully, warning that driving conditions there are "complicated."
“If we don't take care of ourselves, no one else will,” he cautioned. “Please drive safely, as our lives here hold little value. Most of us are here seeking a better life and to support our families. Many have loved ones back home, and tragically, there's no return after such incidents.”
Earlier this year, several traffic accidents in Suriname claimed the lives of Cuban residents, all involving motorcycles. In February, 43-year-old Emir Castro González from Cárdenas, Matanzas, and a father of two, died in a collision with a van in Paramaribo. Two weeks later, Gilberto José Mora Ávila, a 29-year-old from Holguín and father of a child, was killed when his motorcycle hit a car.
Another tragic incident in March took the lives of a married couple, Enrique Gousson Cabrera, 52, and Margarita Bea Martínez, 53, both from Havana. Efforts to confirm the names of the deceased from Saturday's accident are ongoing by CiberCuba. Local media reports state the incident remains under investigation.
Common Questions About the Suriname Traffic Accident Involving Cubans
What caused the traffic accident in Paramaribo?
Preliminary reports suggest that the accident was caused by a series of overtaking maneuvers by two cars, leaving little room and resulting in a collision that involved a scooter carrying two Cuban nationals.
Have the identities of the Cuban victims been confirmed?
As of now, CiberCuba has not been able to confirm the identities of the Cuban victims involved in the accident.
Are traffic accidents involving Cubans common in Suriname?
Yes, there have been several reported incidents this year where Cuban nationals have died in motorcycle accidents in Suriname.