One Dead and 14 Injured in Sancti Spiritus Crash

Traffic crashes are the fifth leading cause of death in Cuba (Escambray)

14ymedio bigger14ymedio, Havana, 12 January 2018  — One person died and 14 others were injured in a crash on Thursday afternoon on the highway that connects with city of Sancti Spiritus with the town of Guasimal. A truck from the state company Acopiobeing used as public transport overturned on the curve known as El Fiel, according to a report aired in the Buenos Dias TV program.

The truck, loaded with passengers the back, overturned after meeting a jeep on the curve and taking maneuvers to avoid a collision. Aramís Macías Rodríguez, 42, a resident of Paredes, lost his life in the crash and among the 14 injured there are three minors.

The injured adults are being treated at the Camilo Cienfuegos Provincial Hospital in Sancti Spíritus and at least three of them are in critical condition with life threatening injuries, a doctor from the hospital center told national television.

“The rest of the patients have less serious injuries and are under observation, and in the next few hours we will determine how to proceed with them,” the doctor added.

The children who suffered injuries in the accident are being treated in the José Martí Pediatric Hospital in the same city.

“Makeshift” buses are common in Cuba; here a cart pulled by a tractor is used as a bus in Pinar del Rio. (MJ Porter)

Traffic crashes are the fifth leading cause of death in Cuba. In the last five years crashes have also caused monetary losses estimated at 2.5 billion Cuban pesos, about 100 million dollars, which is between 1% and 5% of the island’s GDP.

_______________________________

The 14ymedio team is committed to serious journalism that reflects the reality of deep Cuba. Thank you for joining us on this long road. We invite you to continue supporting us, but this time by becoming a member of 14ymedio. Together we can continue to transform journalism in Cuba.