A woman identified as Annette “N” has been formally bound over for trial after prosecutors accused her of deliberately driving a pickup truck at a man on a ranch road near San Quintín in the Ensenada municipality.
The Regional Prosecutor’s Office for San Quintín charged Annette with “ataque peligroso” (dangerous attack), a criminal offense under Baja California’s penal code that applies when a vehicle is used as a weapon. A judge approved the binding order after reviewing evidence presented by investigators.
What Happened on the Ranch Road
The incident took place on August 28, 2024, on a dirt road off the highway leading toward the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir. According to prosecutors, the victim was standing beside a parked truck when Annette allegedly aimed her pickup directly at him.
The man avoided injury by jumping inside the truck’s cab. The vehicle’s door was struck by the impact before Annette fled the scene, prosecutors said.
Case Moves to Trial Phase
The San Quintín regional prosecutor’s office built its case over several months before securing the court binding. With the judge’s approval, the case now enters formal proceedings, and a trial date will be set.
San Quintín sits roughly 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of Tijuana along the Transpeninsular Highway. The surrounding valley is home to a growing agricultural economy and a small but steady community of foreign residents who own rural properties in the area. The road toward San Pedro Mártir, site of Mexico’s national astronomical observatory, winds east from the highway into increasingly remote terrain.
Under Baja California’s penal code, the charge of ataque peligroso covers assaults committed with instruments or means capable of causing serious harm, including motor vehicles. The charge is distinct from attempted homicide, which requires prosecutors to prove intent to kill rather than intent to injure or threaten.
The defendant’s full surname was withheld by authorities in accordance with Mexican privacy law, which restricts the publication of suspects’ complete names during criminal proceedings.
This story was first reported by Ensenada.net.