The Cuban government stated that the driver had lost control of the vehicle and collided with a tree, while Payá's children and one of the car's passengers asserted that the car had been deliberately run off of the road.
Pemerintah Kuba menyatakan bahwa sang supir kehilangan kontrol kendaraan dan menabrak pohon, sementara anak Payá dan salah satu penumpang mobil menyatakan bahwa mobilnya berjalan lepas kendali di jalan.