Tijuana Municipal Police arrested a man who stabbed a rideshare driver with a knife during an attempted robbery in the early hours of Sunday, May 31. The attack left the driver wounded and caused a single-vehicle crash on Avenida Los Reyes in the Colonia Los Reyes neighborhood.
The driver, who was operating on a ride-hailing platform, suffered a knife wound to the ear during the assault. He lost control of his gray Toyota Scion and struck a utility pole. Red Cross paramedics treated the driver at the scene for his injuries.
Suspect Fled but Was Quickly Caught
The suspect ran from the vehicle after the crash. Tijuana Municipal Police officers responded and located him nearby. The victim identified his attacker, and officers recovered the knife used in the assault as evidence.
Police handed the suspect over to the Baja California State Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía General del Estado, or FGE) for formal processing. The FGE will determine what charges the man faces. Armed robbery and assault with a weapon carry significant prison sentences under Baja California’s criminal code.
Late-Night Rides Carry Higher Risk
The attack took place during the predawn hours, a time when rideshare drivers in Tijuana are particularly exposed to crime. Platform drivers cannot screen passengers before pickup, and late-night trips in less-trafficked neighborhoods present a known safety gap. Colonia Los Reyes sits in Tijuana’s eastern zone, away from the heavily patrolled tourist corridor near the border crossing and Zona Río.
Rideshare apps like Uber and DiDi are widely used in Tijuana by locals and cross-border visitors alike. Incidents involving violence against drivers can reduce the number of available cars during overnight hours, as some drivers choose to stay offline.
For riders, the incident is a reminder to confirm vehicle and driver details before entering a car, share trip information with a contact, and avoid requesting rides to isolated pickup points during late-night hours.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte.