A road mishap occurred this past Saturday on Justiz Road in La Habana del Este, involving a water truck that left an electric bike rider injured. The victim, Abel Armando Matutes De La Peña, recounted that the truck driver appeared to be intoxicated during the incident. Matutes explained that he was approximately 7-10 meters behind the truck when he noticed it stop and then begin reversing down a slope. This forced him to sound his horn and quickly back up to avoid a collision.
Matutes described the truck driver as being so impaired that he failed to notice the electric bike trapped beneath the vehicle. This account was shared in the Facebook group "ACCIDENTES BUSES & CAMIONES por más experiencia y menos víctimas!" After initially interacting with Matutes and promising to return, the driver fled the scene. Following the driver's escape, another individual associated with the truck approached Matutes with threatening behavior.
The confrontation escalated when two women intervened to defend the injured rider, resulting in them being assaulted. The altercation included stone-throwing and endangered even a five-year-old child present at the scene. Matutes has reported the incident to the authorities and pledged to update on the outcome through his contact channels.
Rising Concerns Over Road Safety in Urban Areas
Matutes urged the community to take greater precautions, such as wearing helmets even when riding electric bicycles, and to be vigilant against hazardous behaviors from other road users. Comments on the incident highlighted the truck driver’s culpability for reversing on a public road and allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. Many called for legal action against those who flee accident scenes and resort to violence.
This accident underscores the increasing frequency of road mishaps in Cuba, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas, where heavy vehicles, electric motorcycles, and animal-drawn carts share poorly maintained roads without sufficient regulation. Incidents involving vulnerable vehicles like bicitaxis, motorcycles, and electric tricycles have become commonplace as these modes of transport gain popularity.
Statistics on Road Accidents in Cuba
On September 27, another incident occurred when a large truck collided with an electric motorcycle on Vía Blanca near the exit of Barrio Obrero in La Habana. The National Road Safety Commission recently reported that from January to August, Cuba experienced 5,025 accidents—41 more than the same period in 2024—resulting in injuries to 4,516 people.
Particularly high accident rates have been reported in La Habana, Ciego de Ávila, Villa Clara, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba, often involving motorcycle and moped riders as well as pedestrians. According to Colonel Roberto Rodríguez Fernández, head of the National Traffic Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior (Minint), driver misconduct involving these vehicles leads to about 11 accidents daily, with at least seven injuries and one death every six days. These vehicles are implicated in 52% of traffic accidents in the country, causing 32% of fatalities and 42% of injuries.
Understanding Traffic Incidents in Cuba
What led to the accident in La Habana del Este?
The accident was caused by a water truck driver who appeared to be intoxicated and reversed into an electric bike, leading to a hit-and-run incident.
How frequent are road accidents in Cuba?
Cuba experiences a high number of road accidents, with 5,025 reported between January and August of the current year alone.
What vehicles are most involved in these incidents?
Motorcycles, mopeds, and other vulnerable vehicles are frequently involved, contributing to 52% of traffic accidents.