A vintage car from the 1950s, commonly referred to as an "almendrón" in Cuba, collided with a power pole on Sunday night in Havana. A Facebook user from the group ‘Accidentes Buses & Camiones’ warned, “Right now at 134 and 51. Motorcycle involved. I am unaware of the causes. Drivers, be cautious as the end of the year approaches.” The same user shared a video showing the aftermath of the crash, highlighting the condition of both the classic car and the motorcycle, which was left sprawled across the road.
The incident occurred at the intersection of Avenue 51 and street 134. Details surrounding the cause of the accident and the condition of those involved remain unknown. As this report is being written, neither the authorities nor the state-run media have addressed the accident.
In mid-November, another incident involving an almendrón and a motorcycle transpired near the iconic Plaza de la Revolución in Havana. This was reported by a Facebook user in the same group, who shared a video showing a significant police presence at the scene due to its proximity to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), the Council of State, and other government buildings situated around the Plaza de la Revolución.
On the same day, yet another almendrón collided with a motorcycle, reportedly while attempting to avoid a pothole, at the junction of Porvenir and Font streets in Havana's La Víbora neighborhood, within the 10 de Octubre municipality.
Earlier in mid-May, a traffic accident in Guantánamo resulted in one fatality and another person injured following a crash between an almendrón and a motorcycle in the town of San Antonio del Sur.
Understanding Traffic Incidents Involving Classic Cars in Cuba
What is an almendrón?
An almendrón is a term used in Cuba to describe classic cars from the 1950s, often used as shared taxis in the country.
Where did the recent crash in Havana occur?
The recent crash took place at the intersection of Avenue 51 and street 134 in Havana.
Have the authorities commented on the Havana crash?
As of the time of writing, neither the authorities nor the official media have commented on the incident.