The family of Alejandro ‘N,’ a Baja California Sur state congressional employee killed on March 28 in a crash on the Transpeninsular Highway, fears the suspected drunk driver responsible for his death could be released on bail.
The fatal collision occurred on the stretch of highway between Chametla and El Centenario, just south of La Paz. Alejandro was the son-in-law of BCS state legislator Karina Olivas. According to the family, the suspect allegedly fled the scene after the crash, was apprehended following a police chase, and then refused to submit to a toxicology test.
Defense Files for New Hearing
The defense attorney for the suspect has requested a new hearing, now scheduled for Sunday at 10:00 a.m. The victim’s family says this is a legal maneuver designed to delay proceedings and potentially secure the suspect’s release. Under Mexican criminal law, suspects in certain cases can petition for release if prosecutors fail to meet procedural deadlines during initial hearings.
The case has generated significant public anger in La Paz. Neighbors of the suspect have come forward to say they repeatedly warned local police about his reckless speeding in the days before the crash. Those warnings, they say, were ignored by authorities.
Ignored Warnings and Public Outrage
Residents living near the highway between Chametla and El Centenario reported seeing the suspect driving at dangerous speeds on multiple occasions before the fatal collision. Their complaints to local police produced no response, according to accounts shared publicly after the crash.
The Transpeninsular Highway, also known as Mexico Highway 1, is the main north-south artery through Baja California Sur. The Chametla to El Centenario corridor sits roughly 10 kilometers south of downtown La Paz and carries heavy traffic, including local commuters, commercial trucks, and tourists heading to and from the state capital.
The suspect’s refusal to take a toxicology test complicates the prosecution’s case. In BCS, as elsewhere in Mexico, a breathalyzer or blood test refusal does not automatically serve as an admission of intoxication, making it harder for prosecutors to prove impairment at the time of the crash.
The family has called on the public to attend the Sunday hearing and demand accountability. The case has renewed calls from La Paz residents for stricter traffic enforcement on the Transpeninsular, particularly in zones with a history of speeding and accidents. First reported by BCS Noticias.