A Pemex fuel tanker nearly plunged off Puente Machado in Playas de Rosarito on Thursday morning after the driver lost control while merging onto the Tijuana-Ensenada toll road. The heavy tanker truck sideswiped the metal safety barrier separating the bridge lane from the boulevard below, coming dangerously close to toppling over the edge.
The incident occurred around the area of the Government Center and the General Hospital, near the Colonia Constitución neighborhood. Emergency crews, Pemex Physical Security personnel, and the Guardia Nacional (National Guard) responded to the scene.
No Fuel Spill, Driver Uninjured
Authorities confirmed that no fuel leaked from the loaded tanker during the collision. The driver was not injured. Damage was limited to public infrastructure and the tanker itself.
Rosarito’s Civil Protection and Fire Department said its teams worked alongside Pemex security staff to assess risks before towing operations could begin. High-tonnage cranes were brought in to reposition and remove the tanker from the bridge.
Bridge Closed During Recovery
Puente Machado was shut down while towing and safety operations were underway. The bridge connects the toll road to a key stretch of boulevard in Rosarito, making the closure a significant bottleneck for commuters on the Tijuana-Ensenada corridor. Rosarito Civil Protection urged drivers to use alternate routes and follow official instructions during the closure.
Investigators are still working to determine whether the crash was caused by excessive speed, a mechanical failure, or another factor. Cleanup and accident reconstruction work continued into the afternoon.
Second Pemex Incident in Rosarito This Year
The close call comes just two months after a fire broke out along a Pemex gasoline pipeline near Real de Rosarito in early February. That blaze, which sent a thick black plume over the city, was later attributed to a clandestine fuel tap on an exposed section of the Rosarito-Mexicali pipeline. No injuries were reported in that incident either, but residents in nearby housing developments were evacuated as a precaution.
The Tijuana-Ensenada toll road’s tight interchange ramps have long posed challenges for large commercial vehicles. Thousands of drivers, including many who commute between Rosarito, Tijuana, and Ensenada, use the corridor daily.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte and Tijuana en Línea.