A vintage automobile lost control and crashed into a pole on Guachinango Street, between Embarcadero and Álvarez, in the city of Matanzas on Thursday, resulting in injuries to three individuals, as reported by Periódico Girón.
The injured were swiftly taken to the Faustino Pérez Provincial Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital in Matanzas, which serves as the main trauma care center in the province.
The head of the Intensive Care Unit provided details on the patients' conditions: "At the medical facility, two patients were classified as code red: a male patient in serious condition and a female patient critically unstable. The third person, the vehicle's driver, is currently not in life-threatening condition and is hospitalized in the Surgical Observation Ward."
The vehicle, marked with the license plate P195059, is a 1956 Ford Fairlane, one of the classic American cars still seen on Cuban roads, lacking the modern safety features of newer vehicles.
Initially, Periódico Girón reported a pedestrian among the injured, but local Matanzas residents disputed this claim. "All three were in the car, no pedestrian was hurt," confirmed one respondent directly addressing the report.
Another local highlighted infrastructure issues as a contributing factor at this location: "The Guachinango curve was one-way downhill for a long time to prevent frequent accidents, but someone had the bright idea to make it two-way, and now we see the consequences, but no one acknowledges this."
Guachinango Street has a history of being a hazardous area. Earlier this year in February, a container truck knocked down poles at the intersection with Calzada del Naranjal, and residents have described this stretch as the scene of numerous prior accidents, some resulting in fatalities.
This recent incident occurs amid a worsening road safety situation in Cuba. In 2025, the National Road Safety Commission recorded 750 fatalities from traffic accidents, marking an 18.2% increase compared to the previous year, along with over 6,700 injuries.
In October, a major accident in Matanzas resulted in 22 injuries and at least one death, positioning the province as one of the most critical areas in the country concerning road safety.
Periódico Girón noted that the news was developing at the time of publication.
Key Information on Matanzas Traffic Accidents
What caused the accident in Matanzas?
The accident was caused when a classic car lost control and collided with a pole on Guachinango Street.
What are the conditions of the injured individuals?
One woman is in critical condition, a man is in serious condition, and the driver is not in life-threatening condition.
Why is Guachinango Street considered dangerous?
Guachinango Street has a history of accidents, partly due to a problematic road design that was recently changed to two-way traffic, increasing the risk of incidents.