It has been over a week since 35-year-old Mairovis Valier Heredia tragically lost her life after being struck in the early hours of August 25 on Galiano Street in Havana. Yet, her family claims they have received no clear information from authorities about who is responsible for the incident. The Ministry of the Interior issued a brief statement on August 25, acknowledging that a "foreign resident" had run over nine individuals in Centro Habana and Old Havana, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. They confirmed that the driver was detained and under investigation but offered no further details about their identity or the legal proceedings.
The family, having even visited a police station, feels they are being kept in the dark. "They're hiding everything, and we are waiting for justice to be served," stated Danieyis Lamorú Heredia, the victim's sister, who was also injured in the incident.
Fleeing the Hospital to Attend Her Sister's Wake
Danieyis, 41, recounted to El Estornudo how she was in the intensive care unit at Calixto García when a neighbor approached her to inform her of her younger sister's death. In desperation, she removed her IVs and left the hospital. "I left like a madwoman, begging for help to get to the funeral home where my sister was being mourned," she explained. A compassionate bicitaxi driver took her to Calzada and K in El Vedado, where she confirmed that Mairovis' body was there.
Intentional Hit-and-Run
During the fateful night, both sisters were walking with a cousin and an aunt along Galiano. It was between Neptuno and San Miguel that a red Audi suddenly came at them. "The driver intentionally aimed the car at us. I didn't see his face because it happened so fast," she said. The consequences were severe: their cousin suffered a kidney injury, their aunt underwent surgery for a fractured jaw, and Danieyis herself sustained injuries to her face and legs. Tragically, Mairovis did not survive.
The incident left three children—aged 2, 5, and 17—without a mother. The young preschool teacher had recently arrived in Havana from Guantánamo to work and be closer to her eldest son, who had just started at the Camilo Cienfuegos military school. Now, her mother and sister are faced with the daunting task of caring for the children amidst uncertainty and institutional silence. "The kids are asking about their mother, and we don't know what to tell them," Danieyis expressed.
In a video shared on social media, the elderly mother of the sisters voiced her anguish: "I'm suffering because that foreigner took my daughter's life, and no one has come to tell me who he is, what car he was driving... No support at all. I demand justice, I demand the maximum penalty."
A Case Shrouded in Secrecy
The silence from authorities regarding such a serious incident highlights once more the opacity with which the Cuban state handles public tragedies. Beyond the personal grief of a family, the lack of information reinforces a sense of impunity and citizen vulnerability. Mairovis' story is not just about a woman who lost her life senselessly, but also about a country where justice seems subordinate to the control of the official narrative, leaving victims abandoned.
The only statement from the Ministry of the Interior mentioned a driver hitting nine people in various parts of Centro Habana and Old Havana. Independent media suggest the driver might be a Cuban-American, though authorities have not confirmed this. It is known that a mother and her young daughter were taken to the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital, while three others were admitted to Calixto García Hospital, reportedly recovering "favorably," according to official medical reports. However, neither Mairovis' family nor the injured have received visits from officials or detailed information about the legal process.
In a country where access to justice is often influenced by political discretion, the lack of answers strengthens the perception of impunity and a state more concerned with controlling the narrative than supporting the victims. Mairovis' mother put it bluntly: "No one has come to help me with the children."
This tragedy leaves three children motherless and a family crying out for justice in an environment where personal grief is compounded by official indifference. Beyond the shock of the accident, what lies beneath is the absence of a transparent and responsive system to its citizens, turning a personal tragedy into a symbol of institutional neglect.
Questions about Justice and Accountability in Cuba
What happened to Mairovis Valier Heredia?
Mairovis Valier Heredia was tragically killed when struck by a car driven by a "foreign resident" in Havana on August 25, leaving her family seeking justice and answers from authorities.
Has the driver been identified by Cuban authorities?
As of now, the authorities have not released the identity of the driver, only stating that the individual is a "foreign resident" and is detained for investigation.
How has the family of the victim reacted to the incident?
The family, particularly Mairovis' sister and mother, have expressed frustration and demand justice, criticizing the lack of transparency and support from the authorities.