A mother is reaching out to the public for assistance in identifying a motorcyclist who struck her and her son in Havana's Playa neighborhood on Sunday. The motorcyclist fled the scene without offering proper aid and provided false information to evade accountability, according to her account.
At approximately 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, Celia Valdez and her 10-year-old son were hit by a motorcycle while riding their electric bicycle near the traffic lights at 7th and 10th streets. Both sustained injuries, and their bike was damaged in the incident.
Valdez shared her experience on Facebook, describing how a young man on a red motorcycle, resembling a Suzuki but with a larger tank, collided with them and initially fled. After hearing her cries, he returned to the scene in a "nervous" state, exchanged phone numbers, but the number he provided was false.
"He claimed his name was Ernesto Enrique and gave me the number 56803358, which turned out to be fake," Valdez revealed. "My electric bike was damaged, and both my child and I were injured," she explained. "I filed a report, but in my distress, I couldn't get the license plate number. Only one person helped us, no one else, despite the area being quite busy. Everything was lost; I was lying in the street with my 10-year-old son."
Valdez is appealing for help to find the motorcyclist, whom she described as "white-skinned, tall, with curly, shoulder-length hair." He was wearing a black racing helmet, and the collision caused the right mirror to fall off his vehicle. The young man mentioned he was a university student, living with his grandmother while his parents reside abroad.
"Someone must have seen something; there were plenty of people around... Please, any information will help, he needs to be accountable," she pleaded. People can reach out to her directly via messenger.
While official statistics suggest a decrease in traffic accidents in 2025 compared to the previous year, these incidents remain prevalent, with an increase in fatalities, particularly among pedestrians and riders of vulnerable vehicles such as pedicabs, motorcycles, and electric bikes, whose use has surged in Cuba in recent years.
The National Road Safety Commission recently reported that between January and May, there were 3,035 accidents, resulting in 2,670 injuries and 290 deaths.
Traffic Safety Concerns in Havana
What happened to Celia Valdez and her son in Havana?
Celia Valdez and her 10-year-old son were struck by a motorcyclist while riding their electric bicycle in Havana's Playa neighborhood. The motorcyclist provided false information and fled the scene.
How can the public assist in this situation?
The public can help by providing any information about the incident or the motorcyclist. Witnesses are encouraged to reach out to Celia Valdez through messenger.
What are the recent statistics on traffic accidents in Cuba?
From January to May, Cuba reported 3,035 traffic accidents, with 2,670 injuries and 290 fatalities, according to the National Road Safety Commission.