DianaT - 7-5-2007 at 04:06 PM
Every time we travel Highway 1 we see at least one awful accident --- trucks, cars, and even pedestrians.
This time was no different. Just north of Guerrero Negro there was one that involved two people on a touring motorcycle, and a cow. The man died at
the scene, and I guess the woman was in very serious condition---don't know, but the motorcycle was in hundreds of parts. It was terrible.
If there was ever a place to drive defensively ALL the time, it is Highway 1.
Be safe Nomads, and drive defensively!!!!!
Diane
oxxo - 7-5-2007 at 04:48 PM
We drove Hwy 1 north from Cabo to la frontera on June 28/29. We stayed at Los Caracoles in GN and renewed our acquaintance with the Belle of the
Bahia - Serenita. North of the military checkpoint, north of Guerro Negro (about 1 hour north of GN) we came upon a semi truck and trailer
jack-knifed in the middle of the road about 7am. This was in the mountainous section. He evidently got his wheels into the drainage ditch on the
side of the road while going around a curve and he turned it over. What was weird is that there was no one around. I got out and looked in the cab,
but no one there and no blood. I looked around to see if the driver had been thrown clear, but found nothing. I did find a one gallon jug of water
resting inside the rim of one of the tires, so someone had been taking stock of the situation. I speculate that it must have happened in the last 15
minutes or so because there was no way a truck in either direction could get around or turn around. There was all kinds of debris in the road (sodas
and beer) so we gingerly eased our way past the scene. No, we did not help ourselves to the booty. We believe in "bad karma." I have a Telcel
phone, but there was no reception in that area and so no way to make an emergency call. Apparently, the driver must have hitched a ride with someone
in front of us. We proceded north and stopped at the first roadside shack and reported the incident. They shrugged their shoulders like "no big
deal." I can tell you it was going to take a big tow truck several hours to clean up that mess.
Later in the day, we went through the military checkpoint north of El Rosario. I reported the incident again and the soldiers said it was not their
problem, it was not in their sector. Then they asked if we could take one of their buddies to their base in San Quintin. We said sure. Well,
Private Jorge rode with us for the next 45 miles and we had a good chat. He is a drummer in the military band and his commanding officer told him to
get to SQ immediately. He told us someone important must be coming to the base!
I asked him about drug interdiction at the checkpoints. He said yes, they find a lot of drugs and guns. He said it is mostly Mexicans running drugs
and mostly gringos carrying guns. Believe it or not, he said they find guns and drugs several times a week at the checkpoints. They patrol the hills
around the El Rosario/SQ area with Hummers. He said that private planes fly into the area where they offload drug shipments in remote spots.
He said his military committment was three years and he had one year to go. He said he has enjoyed his service. When he gets out (he'll be 21 then),
he is going into the building contractor business with his father. He said he grew up in TJ and learned English by watching Sesame Street.
What a good experience. We love Baja and the Bajamians! But be cautious on Hwy 1.