Among the injured are seven children who were transferred to the Pediatric Hospital in the province
14ymedio/EFE, Havana, 11 January 2025 — The collision of two buses on a road in the Cuban province of Camagüey left three dead and 60 injured this Friday, according to state media reports. Among the injured were seven minors who received care in a pediatric hospital, five in the operating room and two in intermediate therapy, while the adults were attended in the provincial hospital of Camagüey, according to the local station Radio Cadena Agramonte.
Of the five adult patients initially reported as critical, one woman died in the early hours of Saturday, after emergency surgery. Georgina Barrero Gutiérrez, 49 years old, lived in the municipality of Pilón in the province of Granma, according to Dr. Rodolfo Emilio Domínguez Rosabal, director of the care center. Damaris Reyes Rodríguez, 49, from Bayamo in Granma, died later in the morning. Julio Idóneo Torres Reyes, from Havana, 56 years old, died at the scene of the accident.
“The buses involved in the accident were a Transmetro, coming from Songo La Maya, and another bus that was transporting workers,” Televisión Camagüey said on social networks. The first vehicle had left Manzanillo, in Granma, while the other was transporting employees from the keys in Camagüey. According to the preliminary analysis, the workers’ bus violated the right of way of the Transmetro bus. So far, no other details of this massive accident have been revealed, the second of its kind recorded in Camagüey since the beginning of 2025.
On January 2, another accident occurred that caused the death of one person and injured 63 others. A truck driver lost control of the vehicle when traveling on a road towards Santa Cruz del Sur, a town in the province of Camaguey.
Accidents on Cuban roads decreased by 13% in the first half of 2024
According to data published by the Island’s traffic authorities, accidents on Cuban roads decreased in the first half of 2024 by 13% (543 fewer) compared to the same period last year. The number of deaths and injuries fell by 23% and 5%, respectively.
Among the main causes of these crashes, the authorities have pointed out indisciplines such as not respecting the right of way, not keeping a distance, driving while drunk and losing control of the vehicle.
They also recognize that the poor condition of roads, traffic signs and both state and private vehicles are factors that affect accidents.
Cuba’s road network is in a poor state due to the general lack of maintenance – something that affects the pavement, signage and lighting – and most of the vehicles on the road have been in operation for 40 to 70 years.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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