An Altisa route taxi carrying 19 passengers rolled onto its side Saturday morning on Boulevard Insurgentes in Tijuana’s El Florido neighborhood after the driver reportedly lost control at excessive speed.
The crash occurred just before 7:00 a.m. near the intersection of Boulevard Insurgentes and Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, close to a Soriana Hiper supermarket. The Nissan Urvan, a common vehicle for shared route taxis in Tijuana, veered left and tipped onto its right side, shattering windows and leaving the vehicle’s tires exposed.
Most Injuries Minor, One Woman Hospitalized
Cruz Roja (Red Cross) paramedics treated most passengers on scene for minor injuries. One woman with more serious injuries was transported to a hospital by ambulance. Her condition has not been publicly reported.
The early morning timing of the crash is typical of Altisa’s commuter runs. El Florido sits in Tijuana’s eastern sprawl, and workers heading to maquiladoras and commercial zones along Insurgentes pack route taxis well before dawn.
What Is Altisa?
Altisa, short for Autotransportes Libres de Tijuana S.A. de C.V., is one of Tijuana’s largest fixed-route shared taxi operators. The company runs Nissan Urvan and similar passenger vans along dozens of set routes across the city, from the border zone to outlying colonias like El Florido.
These shared taxis, known locally as colectivos or “taxis de ruta,” are a backbone of Tijuana’s public transit system. Fares are low, typically between 12 and 19 pesos (roughly $0.60 to $1.00 USD), and the vans often run at or above passenger capacity during morning rush hours.
Speeding Remains a Persistent Problem
Excessive speed is a recurring safety issue on Tijuana’s colectivo routes. Drivers are typically paid per trip rather than per hour, creating a financial incentive to complete routes as quickly as possible. Boulevard Insurgentes, a wide east-west corridor through Tijuana’s southern districts, sees heavy colectivo traffic throughout the day.
Authorities have not announced whether the driver in Saturday’s crash will face charges. Tijuana municipal police and transit officers responded to the scene alongside Cruz Roja.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte.