The head of the Emergency Medical Services at the Faustino Pérez Provincial Clinical Surgical Hospital in Matanzas recently provided an update regarding the condition of patients admitted following the large-scale accident in Carbonera, Cárdenas municipality, on the highway leading to Varadero.
Dr. Laudelino Fernández Medina assured that none of the six individuals admitted to the facility are currently facing life-threatening conditions.
Journalist Carlos Manuel Bernal López shared on Facebook that from the onset, the hospital activated its multiple trauma victim protocol given the patients' conditions and the accident location, as confirmed by Fernández Medina.
Out of the 29 individuals injured in the incident, only six were brought to the medical center. Initial assessments classified one as code red (immediate danger of death), one as code yellow, and four as code green.
"In the first 45 minutes, we conducted evaluations, and so far, none of these patients' lives are in jeopardy. They are under specialist care," he specified.
The doctor also emphasized that none of the six patients have required mechanical ventilation yet, although he warned that their situations could change. "The condition can evidently shift from red to yellow, or yellow to red," he noted.
An additional 22 individuals received medical evaluation at the Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy Military Hospital. According to the institution's deputy director, Humberto Domínguez Suárez, the group included 21 adults, four of whom suffered neurosurgical trauma, two had cervical injuries, and one minor was under observation without significant injuries. A patient with renal trauma underwent emergency surgery and was to be relocated for potential spinal cord injury assessment.
The Faustino Pérez Hospital is the sole facility in Matanzas equipped with CT and neurosurgery services, necessitating the transfer of cases from the Military Hospital requiring these evaluations once stabilized.
The accident occurred on Friday when a passenger truck lost control and collided with a metal post in Carbonera. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, as confirmed by Yamira López García, the provincial health director. Due to delays in ambulance arrivals, local residents and private drivers stepped in to assist and transport the victims.
In 2025, traffic accidents claimed 750 lives in Cuba, marking an 18.2% increase from the previous year. The National Commission for Road Safety reported 153 fatalities in the first quarter of 2026 alone.
Key Information on the Matanzas Accident and Victim Care
What was the cause of the Matanzas accident?
The accident was caused when a passenger truck lost control and collided with a metal post in Carbonera.
How many victims were admitted to the Faustino Pérez Hospital?
Six victims were admitted to the Faustino Pérez Hospital, while the rest received medical care at other facilities.
What measures were taken immediately after the accident?
The hospital activated the multiple trauma victim protocol, and local residents and private drivers helped transport victims due to ambulance delays.
What is the status of traffic accident fatalities in Cuba?
In 2025, there were 750 traffic-related deaths in Cuba, an 18.2% increase from the previous year, with 153 fatalities recorded in the first quarter of 2026.