A head-on collision between a route taxi and a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck injured at least eight people, including a minor, on Wednesday afternoon in Tijuana. The crash occurred around 2:00 p.m. on Boulevard Cuauhtémoc Sur near the Calimax Montesinos store and the Entrenubes residential development, in the Anexa Internacional neighborhood.
Unofficial reports indicate the pickup driver crossed into the oncoming lane and struck the taxi, which was traveling in the direction of Playas de Rosarito. Both vehicles sustained severe front-end damage from the impact.
Taxi Driver Rescued With Hydraulic Equipment
Elmer Estrada, head of emergency medical rescue for the Tijuana Fire Department (Dirección de Bomberos de Tijuana), said first responders found the taxi driver trapped with one leg pinned inside the vehicle. Crews used hydraulic rescue tools to remove the door and free him. The taxi driver was transported to a hospital in serious condition.
The remaining seven victims, including a child, suffered injuries described as minor. The route taxi involved was identified by its economic number 11391, a white-and-yellow vehicle typical of Tijuana’s shared taxi transit system.
Major Boulevard Disrupted During Afternoon Hours
Boulevard Cuauhtémoc Sur is one of Tijuana’s principal north-south corridors, connecting the city center to the southern suburbs and Playas de Rosarito. Route taxis, known locally as “taxis de ruta,” operate as shared minivans or sedans on fixed routes throughout the city. They are one of the most common forms of public transportation in Tijuana, carrying thousands of passengers daily at fares typically between 15 and 20 pesos (roughly $0.80 to $1.10 USD).
The crash blocked traffic on the boulevard during peak afternoon hours. Emergency crews cleared the scene after extricating the trapped driver and transporting all victims.
One secondary source, Blanco y Negro, reported the total number of injured as nine rather than eight. The discrepancy had not been resolved by authorities as of Wednesday evening. The incident was first reported by Semanario Zeta.