Truck Overturns After Tire Blowout on Cuba's National Highway

In the early hours of Friday, a truck overturned at kilometer 308 on Cuba's National Highway following a front tire blowout, according to social media accounts. The incident, occurring around 3:00 am, was reported by a member of the Facebook group "ACCIDENTES BUSES & CAMIONES por más experiencia y menos víctimas!" who posted a video showing the truck completely overturned beside a bridge structure.

Norge Pérez Ruiz, who shared the footage, noted that by the time he arrived at the scene, there were no visible occupants in the vehicle. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries. "The driver is unharmed, thank God," commented user Havana Estrada. Another witness confirmed the blowout of a front tire as the cause and stated that "there were no human losses."

This incident is part of a concerning trend of similar truck accidents in Cuba throughout July. Recurring issues include mechanical failures, tire blowouts, potential human errors, and deficiencies in road infrastructure. These factors have made heavy vehicle overturns a persistent risk for both drivers and road users.

Just two weeks ago, another truck overturned on a street in the 10 de Octubre municipality, Havana, near the Cupet at 24 and Dolores, causing significant disruption. On the same day, a fatal crash occurred at Loma de Rejondones in Báguanos, Holguín, where the driver, known as Jorgito, lost his life after veering off the road and overturning.

While no injuries were reported in Friday's accident, the images of the vehicle beside the highway underscore the severity of the incident and reignite concerns over the state of Cuba's road network and the urgent need for preventive maintenance in heavy transport. Authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the accident at kilometer 308. However, social media users emphasize that these events should not be dismissed as isolated incidents but rather seen as symptoms of a structural issue that demands immediate attention.