The crash occurred in Moa at around 4 p.m.
14ymedio, Madrid, 13 January 2025 — The collision between a van and a tricycle claimed the lives of six people on Monday in Moa, in the province of Holguín. Five of them died at the scene of the accident and another died at Dr. Guillermo Luis Fernández Hernández-Baquero Hospital, where the injured were taken.
The crash occurred around 4 p.m. on the Baracoa road, on a stretch leading to the Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara factory. At this time, it is unknown what conditions led to the collision, but the consequences were fatal, as can be seen—in addition to the numerous victims—in the images showing the condition of the vehicles.
The official press has released the identities of the deceased. They are Andys William Mendoza Ferrer, 41, a resident of Reparto Aeropuerto, Frank País; Enoelio Borges Reyes, 50, a native of Moa, Cayo Grande de Yamanigüey; Maria Carla Noguera Despaigne, 19, from Avenida Lenin, Reparto 26 de Julio; Emmanuel Rodríguez Igarza, 23, and Eloina Reyes González, 69, both residents of Punta Gorda Arriba; and Liolvis Lofforte Alpajón, 33, from Cayo Grande de Yamanigüey.
In addition, six people were injured, including the two drivers. They are Sandro Medina Oliveros, 52, a resident of Reparto Miraflores, reported to be in serious but stable condition; Yanet Rodríguez Reyes, 49, from Punta Gorda Arriba, with a head injury but in stable condition; Omar Breff Blanco, 58, a resident of Reparto Armando Mestre, who was the driver of the tricycle and is in serious condition; Liset Suárez Lovaina, 29, a resident of Quemado del Negro, stable with non-serious injuries; and Eroeldis Borges Alpajón, 23, from Cayó Grande de Yamanigüey, in serious but stable condition.
At present, it is unclear what conditions led to the collision, but the consequences were fatal, as can be seen in the images showing the condition of the vehicles.
In addition to the emergency services, rescue and salvage teams from the nickel industry attended the scene to treat the injured and identify and remove the deceased.
The causes of the accident, which is the second major accident so far this year, are currently under investigation. The first occurred on Wednesday, 7 January, in Camagüey, when two of the 38 passengers on a bus died after the vehicle, which was transporting workers from the Mariel Special Development Zone, veered off the road.
Between January and August 2025, there were 502 transportation-related fatalities on the island. Although the total for that year is still unknown, at that point alone the number had already risen to 80% of the total for 2024. By comparison, last year 1,119 people died on Spanish roads, just over twice as many as on the island in only eight months, with a population six times larger.
The poor condition of roads and vehicles contributes to any distraction, recklessness or speeding – the causes attributed to most crashes – having fatal consequences. In addition, the shortage of transport in good condition forces a large part of the population to travel in precarious conditions that lack any safety measures.
Translated by GH
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