A 72-year-old woman died Friday morning after a two-vehicle collision on the Libramiento Sur in Tijuana, according to local authorities. Martha Alicia García Verduzco was traveling with her husband when their car struck another vehicle on the busy southern bypass route around 9:00 a.m. on April 3.
The crash occurred in front of Motel Hacienda El Soler, a well-known landmark along the Libramiento Sur. García Verduzco died at the scene. According to TV Azteca Baja California, one person ended up trapped beneath one of the vehicles involved in the collision.
Husband Detained After Fatal Collision
García Verduzco’s husband, who was driving at the time of the crash, was transported to the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) facility. Semanario ZETA reported he was taken there “in the status of detained,” a standard procedure in Mexico where drivers involved in fatal accidents are held while authorities investigate.
Under Baja California law, drivers involved in a crash that results in death can face criminal liability. Mexican authorities typically detain all drivers at the scene of a fatal accident until a ministerial investigation determines fault.
Libramiento Sur: A Dangerous Corridor
The Libramiento Sur, also known as the Libramiento Rosas Magallón, is a high-speed arterial road that loops around southern Tijuana. It connects the Tijuana-Tecate highway corridor with neighborhoods south of the city center. Many drivers use the route to bypass congested downtown streets.
Fatal crashes on this road are not uncommon. In March 2022, another person died in a two-vehicle collision on the same bypass near Motel Valle Sur, when a private car collided with a route taxi. That crash left the taxi driver trapped inside the vehicle.
The accident took place on Viernes Santo (Good Friday), the start of the Semana Santa holiday weekend. Traffic volumes on Baja California’s highways typically spike during this period as families travel for the long weekend. Drivers crossing the border or heading to coastal towns often use the Libramiento Sur to connect with southbound routes.
Authorities were conducting investigations at the scene throughout Friday morning. No details about the second vehicle or its occupants have been released. The incident was first reported by Semanario ZETA.