Young Victims of Varadero Toll Booth Tragedy Identified

Cuban authorities have identified the two young individuals who tragically lost their lives in a devastating accident at the Varadero toll booth in Matanzas province on Saturday. Sources close to the victims confirmed to our newsroom that Rubén Lantigua, a U.S. resident originally from Corralillo, Villa Clara, and Amanda Naranjo Pino, from Perico and living in Cantel, were the ones who perished in the incident.

Despite local media reports stating that Rubén was 69 years old, sources informed CiberCuba that Lantigua was actually 33, while Amanda Naranjo was 30. The young woman was a mother to a little girl. These sources also emphasized that Rubén Lantigua, who was driving the car, did not consume alcohol, countering social media rumors suggesting he was under the influence at the time of the crash.

The accident unfolded around 5:40 pm when a private car traveling from Varadero towards Boca de Camarioca lost control and violently struck the masonry divider near the toll booth's payment area. Witnesses recounted that the vehicle was moving at a high speed when it collided with the toll booth structure. The impact was so severe that it lifted the car into the air, causing it to split in half upon landing. One half of the car caught fire, resulting in an explosion visible from several locations in the vicinity.

Sandra Loureiro, director of the National Roadways Center, noted that the burning section of the vehicle rolled into the toll booth area. Although the fire affected the infrastructure partially, no significant damage was reported to the booths. However, a column will need technical evaluation.

Ángel Raúl Reyes Fernández, director of the Varadero Toll Station, mentioned that if the debris could be cleared from the site by morning, traffic through the area would resume.