Over a year has passed since the tragic incident that claimed the life of Alexander Grotestan Montes de Oca, and his family is still searching for answers. On the night of June 23, 2024, around 10:00 p.m., the young Cuban tragically lost his life in a traffic accident between kilometers 82 and 86 of the National Highway, near Nueva Paz in Mayabeque province. The most heartbreaking aspect for his loved ones is not just the irreplaceable loss, but the silence that has followed.
"He was found lifeless at 6:00 a.m. the next day, without assistance, without news, without cameras. To this day, his death remains unexplained," wrote his close friend, almost like a brother, Yasmany Monteagudo, in a post on the Facebook group “ACCIDENTES BUSES & CAMIONES por más experiencia y menos víctimas!”
The police informed the family that Alexander "walked in front of the vehicle," but Yasmany insists that his heart and conscience tell him otherwise. He claims the driver was identified, yet they haven't been heard or shown any evidence.
"I just want to know the truth. I just want justice. I just want to look him in the eye and ask: what happened?" pleads Monteagudo, urging anyone who was in the area that night or has information to contact him. "Your word can change everything," he adds.
On the anniversary of Alexander's passing, Yasmany wrote to him again. This time, not to demand justice, but to honor his memory with love and remembrance. "You were my protector, my example, my companion... Although your absence hurts, I cling lovingly to your memory. Today I look up to the sky and tell you: I love you, I miss you, and you will never stop living in me," he wrote.
Alexander's case is not an isolated one. It is part of a series of traffic tragedies that cast a shadow over Cuban families every week, often going unpunished or without thorough investigation.
While official reports emphasize human error as the main cause of accidents on the island, families denounce the lack of aid, poor road conditions, absence of lighting, lack of cameras, or the slow response of authorities. "A country that cannot even guarantee a turbine,"
The desperation of Alexander's family echoes the pain of other Cubans facing personal tragedies under an unresponsive state. Daymarelis Rosales Milán, a resident of El Cucan in Granma, recently voiced on social media how a traffic accident led to an uncontrolled fire due to a complete lack of water in her community.
"The locality has been without a turbine for three years, and although there is already a budget allocated, no solution has been provided," she denounced. The fire spread without anyone being able to do anything. "We didn't even have a bucket of water," she lamented.
In her message to the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel, Rosales concluded with a phrase that could well apply to the Mayabeque case: "We don't need answers, we need solutions, and we know they exist."
Questions About the Mayabeque Traffic Accident
What happened to Alexander Grotestan Montes de Oca?
Alexander Grotestan Montes de Oca died in a traffic accident on June 23, 2024, on the National Highway near Nueva Paz, Mayabeque. His death remains unexplained, and his family continues to seek justice.
Why is the family of Alexander Grotestan seeking justice?
The family is seeking justice because they believe the circumstances of Alexander's death have not been adequately investigated, and the driver involved has not been held accountable.
What are the broader issues highlighted by this case?
This case underscores issues such as inadequate road safety measures, lack of emergency response, and insufficient investigation of traffic accidents in Cuba.