BajaNomad

A Scary Night East of Baja

Aventurera - 6-8-2008 at 12:32 PM

Having (mostly) recovered from the scare and sitting here on a lazy Sunday, I decided to share my most recent Mexican adventure with you all...in part so that someone else may learn from my own stupidity and also to reaffirm the goodness that still exists in Mexico.

I was in northern Sonora last week visiting my boyfriend who is a Mexican federal police officer (Policia Federal Preventiva...not the highway guys.) While I was there, he got orders to report to Mexico City the next day for training, so we decided that I would drive him to the airport in Mexicali and then continue on home from there. (I'll leave out my tears here for having to cut the trip short. I'm just having to get used to them getting moved from one state to another with no advance notice and certainly no concern from the administration for visits from his girlfriend!)

By the time we left, it was starting to get dark, but the highway wasn't bad and we were having a nice drive. Around 8:45 pm, my cell phone rang, and when I went to answer it (this is the part about my stupidity), my car veered to the right shoulder and the tires went over the side of the road. (This is a 2-lane highway with a shoulder of about one foot and then a 15-20 foot slope dropping off into the desert.) We heard and felt the impact, but I was able to pull the car back onto the road, and luckily there was no other car coming in the opposite direction. I slowed the car down and looked for somewhere to pull off the road, but there was nothing. We were in the middle of the Sonoran desert, almost halfway between Sonoyta and San Luis Rio Colorado.

My boyfriend told me to put on my hazard lights and stop the car so that he could see if he could change the tire; however, it turned out that both tires on the passenger side were blown. We crawled at a snail's pace for about 5 minutes, but there was nowhere to pull off the road. We finally had to just stop the car in the middle of the lane on this 2-lane highway so that I could call the Mexican insurance company. This is probably a good point to mention that my car is a Mazda Miata, so you can imagine my panic at being parked smack dab in the middle of the highway at night in this tiny little car! If I didn't realize how much I loved my boyfriend before, I certainly did that night because he handled the whole situation in the most calm, relaxed manner possible. Not once did he blame me for being stupid enough to go for my phone, nor did he ever raise his voice, even when we were on the verge of going over the side of the road. He called his coworkers to see if they were patrolling anywhere nearby, but unfortunately they were a good two hour drive away from us. And believe it or not, there are no police that patrol that stretch of the highway!

After a few minutes, a semi pulled up behind us and stopped. My bf told me to wait in the car while he went to talk to them. (Little did I know until later that he was more worried about them robbing or kidnapping us than anything else!) It turns out that these were two wonderful guys who ended up keeping their semi parked behind my Miata for NEARLY 3 HOURS while we waited for the stupid insurace company to send somebody out for us.





When the insurance adjustor finally came, the only thing he wanted to do was drive the car 7 km up the road where there was a 'rest stop' and leave it until the next day...as if there would be anything left of it the next day except maybe the two busted tires! This was when the bf started losing his cool. We ended up calling for a tow truck (which the stupid insurance didn't cover since they didn't qualify our incident as an 'accident'!) We then sat there for another 45 minutes until the tow truck arrived and loaded my car up to haul us to San Luis. There we were able to find a 24-hour tire shop, where they discovered that the blow to the tires had banged big dents into the inner rims of the wheels. They put on my spare tire and pounded out the rim on the other wheel and put on a tire. We then found a motel and went to sleep at 5 am. At 9 am, we were up and went to another tire place where they put a used rim and a tire on the wheel that had the spare. All the work on the wheels/tires ended up costing about $60, and the 100 km tow was $300.




Meanwhile, the whole night I had been pestering my bf to call in to Mexico City to explain that he wouldn't be there to check in on time, but he refused to do it until we finally reached the airport the following afternoon. I couldn't understand why since he was obviously concerned about being AWOL until he finally explained to me that if he had called in, they would have told him to get on a bus to Mexicali to get to the airport and leave me to deal with fixing the car myself, something he refused to do. So in the end, he got his flight about 6:30 the next evening, and I drove to San Diego, stayed the night and then took my car to Big O to get the rims and tires replaced (another $500.)

It turned out to be a scary and expensive drive, but in the end we were so very lucky in so many ways...that the car didn't go over the side of the road and kill us, that the truck drivers stopped and were good guys, that no bad guys bothered us in the nearly 4 hours we were stuck on the highway, that Mexico has 24 hour tire shops, etc., etc.

Barry A. - 6-8-2008 at 12:56 PM

-----A scary story indeed!!!

Exactly the same thing happened to my ex-wife while she was travelling south on the highway north of San Quintin, only she was talking (to me) on a 2-way radio---------in an instant 2 tires and wheels destroyed!!! The edge of the pavement in many roads in Baja Ca are a significant hazard, for sure, and you can slip over the edge in an instant.

Thank God your story had a reasoably happy ending. Thanks for reminding us-----of several things. :light:

Barry

Oso - 6-8-2008 at 12:57 PM

Glad you're ok. What's your insurance company? Some of us might like to avoid it.

Diver - 6-8-2008 at 12:59 PM

Sounds like an expensive way to get an extra day with the bf !! :biggrin: :lol:

Aventurera - 6-8-2008 at 01:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
What's your insurance company? Some of us might like to avoid it.


The company was Grupo National Provincial, which I purchased through MexPro online. I was disappointed with them through and through...for how long it took for them to get to us, for the bad attitude of the adjustor, and in the end, I ended up leaving Mexico about 12 days earlier than what I had paid for, and they refused to refund anything of the unused days after I left Mexico. But that was MexPro rather than GNP.

Aventurera - 6-8-2008 at 01:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Diver
Sounds like an expensive way to get an extra day with the bf !! :biggrin: :lol:


Indeed it was! But it may have been worth it just to see how well he reacted to such a situation. On the other hand, he's quite used to being in dangerous situations, just usually not caused by distracted women drivers! :P

debindesert - 6-8-2008 at 01:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Aventurera
...Not once did he blame me for being stupid enough to go for my phone, nor did he ever raise his voice, even when we were on the verge of going over the side of the road. He called his coworkers...


Yep! He's a keeper.:yes:;D


P.S.

Oso - 6-8-2008 at 02:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Aventurera
Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
What's your insurance company? Some of us might like to avoid it.


The company was Grupo National Provincial, which I purchased through MexPro online. I was disappointed with them through and through...for how long it took for them to get to us, for the bad attitude of the adjustor, and in the end, I ended up leaving Mexico about 12 days earlier than what I had paid for, and they refused to refund anything of the unused days after I left Mexico. But that was MexPro rather than GNP.


A lot of us here like Lewis and Lewis.

Osprey - 6-8-2008 at 03:41 PM

I'm confused about the auto insurance coverage. Seems the lady's car collided with the roadway. Should she expect coverage under Collision? Can't imagine the coverage would be provided by Comprehensive but maybe it could. What about damage to the undercarriage if/when you bounce over a tope too fast or with a very low clearance car?

Barry A. - 6-8-2008 at 04:37 PM

"collision" might pay------impact with a hard object (in this case the pavement). I agree that it is "iffy".

Hmm - Mexican Auto Insurance

Gypsy Jan - 6-8-2008 at 05:17 PM

I'm confused by TelCel's car insurance coverage.

We pay around $1.50 per month additional on our phone bill.

Once, my car died (dead battery) and they sent a tow truck to take it to the mechanic in Rosarito. Excellent service and I just signed the invoice.

Next, a BIG piece of concrete fell off a semi-trailer and I ran into it, breaking the tie rod and shredding the left front tire.

TelCel refused to help, saying it was a road hazard.

[Edited on 6-9-2008 by Gypsy Jan]

Roberto - 6-8-2008 at 06:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
A lot of us here like Lewis and Lewis.


Oso, Lewis and Lewis is a broker, not an insurer.

Roberto - 6-8-2008 at 06:54 PM

Forgive my stupid question -- but why was it important to call the insurance company at that particular point? Personally, I would have put a priority on getting the car going, THEN calling the insurance company.

P.S. Some of my best experiences driving in Mexico have been with truck drivers, driving at NIGHT. :O

Aventurera - 6-9-2008 at 12:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Roberto
Forgive my stupid question -- but why was it important to call the insurance company at that particular point? Personally, I would have put a priority on getting the car going, THEN calling the insurance company.


Well, for a couple reasons. First of all, the policy had written in bold letters that the car was not to be moved (which I would have ignored had I been able to move it off the road) and that the insurance adjustor had to be notified immediately in order to inspect the damage or else nothing would be covered. Secondly, we had no idea whom to call (is there even a 411 in Mexico?), so my assumption was that the insurance company would immediately send out a tow truck for us...which they didn't.

What I found REALLY stupid was that the guy on the phone told me that in order to start the process, he needed a telephone number from me. When I gave him my cell phone number, he said, "No, it has to be a Mexican number." Luckily, both my boyfriend and I had Mexican cell phone numbers; however, how many American tourists (the ones who generally take this insurance) are actually going to have Mexican cell phones??? I thought that was really idiotic.

Oso - 6-9-2008 at 06:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Roberto
Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
A lot of us here like Lewis and Lewis.


Oso, Lewis and Lewis is a broker, not an insurer.


Right. The insurer is Qualitas out of the D.F. I don't know what experience anyone has had with claims, but it was cheaper than Sanborns or whatever Mex connection Allstate had- Less than $300/yr for full coverage on $18k.

bajajudy - 6-9-2008 at 07:05 AM

I just went through a tow incident with GNP(not my first) and, as I have in the past, found them to be helpful and courteous. They have english speaking operators and have always sent a tow truck within a reasonable amount of time.
I doubt there is an insurance company in Mexico that will call a US number.

That said, glad that you made it through your ordeal. yes it does sound scary. I, too, have been befriended by truck drivers. They know better than anyone the dangers of the roads of Mexico.

DENNIS - 6-9-2008 at 07:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Aventurera
I thought that was really idiotic.


It's an insurance company. What did you expect?

Barry A. - 6-9-2008 at 07:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Aventurera
Quote:
Originally posted by Roberto
Forgive my stupid question -- but why was it important to call the insurance company at that particular point? Personally, I would have put a priority on getting the car going, THEN calling the insurance company.


Well, for a couple reasons. First of all, the policy had written in bold letters that the car was not to be moved (which I would have ignored had I been able to move it off the road) and that the insurance adjustor had to be notified immediately in order to inspect the damage or else nothing would be covered. Secondly, we had no idea whom to call (is there even a 411 in Mexico?), so my assumption was that the insurance company would immediately send out a tow truck for us...which they didn't.

What I found REALLY stupid was that the guy on the phone told me that in order to start the process, he needed a telephone number from me. When I gave him my cell phone number, he said, "No, it has to be a Mexican number." Luckily, both my boyfriend and I had Mexican cell phone numbers; however, how many American tourists (the ones who generally take this insurance) are actually going to have Mexican cell phones??? I thought that was really idiotic.


Adventurera--------I think you did exactly the right thing, under the circumstances you describe, and it is exactly what I would have done. Thanks for this report.

Thank God for Truckers!!!

Dennis---------all my dealings with USA Auto Insurance companies in the last 55 years (State Farm all that time) has been stellar, and they have totally been responsive to ME and MY needs. Never had to make a claim with a Mexican ins. co. tho.-----sounds like they may not be as cooperative.

Barry

jack - 6-9-2008 at 05:51 PM

Thank God everything turned out all right for you. But here's what I find most interesting in all this. Your boyfriend, a Federally, one of the most powerful representatives of the Mexican justice system was not real concerned about getting the car fixed, or getting run over while you were parked in the middle of the road, or missing his plane. Instead he was most concerned about getting robbed or worst by banditos. There's a message here that we should all take heed of.

Bajame - 6-9-2008 at 07:53 PM

Thank God everything turned out Ok! My left fender in front is smashed do to a cell phone incident. Thank God for telephone poles too as It stopped me from going over into a deep ditch! Sometimes we learn the hard way!

Sharksbaja - 6-9-2008 at 07:53 PM

Screw the insurance company. If that truck hadn't acted to warn and protect you and approaching cars you could have had a deadly accident being stopped there like that. Personally I would have driven that thing off the road one way or another. Glad it all worked out in the end though. The truck gods were smiling on you that night.

Aventurera - 6-10-2008 at 01:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sharksbaja
Personally I would have driven that thing off the road one way or another.


Honestly, we drove on for a few minutes, but we had no idea where the next place to pull off would be...no idea it was 7 km up the road until the insurance adjustor got there. From the shoulder of the road, the ground just sloped down a good 15 to 20 feet, so we would have had to push the car off the road and let it roll down the slope. I suggested leaving the car and moving ourselves off the road and down the slope, but my boyfriend informed me that there were likely scorpions and snakes just waiting for my flip-flop-clad feet. So, yeah, the options were limited. Luckily, as those who drive on Mexican roads know, one is always prepared for the odd broken down car, slow-moving vehicle, or random pedestrian strolling down the highway, so the vehicles that did go by did so very safely.

bajaguy - 6-10-2008 at 06:32 AM

And that's why you should carry full or empty (I prefer full) Tecate cans in the trunk!!!!

vacaenbaja - 6-10-2008 at 10:21 AM

You know it would not be a bad idea to note where there are shoulders big enough to pull a car into along mex 1.
When you find yourself in the position of needing to get
you and your car out of harms way it would be nice to know
just how far away such a place is from where you broke down. This is especially true of the portions of the road that
wind up and down hills. I think that i will start to note the estblished turnouts on my nexts few trips down.
The road edges are very dangerous and unforgiving.
Especially those weed hiiden blocks of 1foot high cement
found at dips and culverts. Trailer tires will usually hit them when the towing vehicle doesn't because often they track wider than the tow vehicle.

Martyman - 6-10-2008 at 02:54 PM

I'd like a map with all the taco stands listed. Oh yeah and make me a map where I can buy lobsters that have been taken illegally too!!

Sharksbaja - 6-10-2008 at 03:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Martyman
I'd like a map with all the taco stands listed. Oh yeah and make me a map where I can buy lobsters that have been taken illegally too!!


What lobster??;D:They are always legal, just ask the vendor.:lol: