BajaNomad
Not logged in [Login - Register]

Go To Bottom
Printable Version  
 Pages:  1    3  ..  6
Author: Subject: True Report?
oxxo
Banned





Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
Member Is Offline

Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!

[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 12:31 PM
True Report?


This report was posted today on Trip Advisors Baja Forum. It was posted by "longhornjohn" who has been a member of that Forum for about one year and lists his location as Lompoc, CA. I don't know if it is true or not. I am posting just for informational purposes.

*******************************

Hello to all, I am writing this as a heads up for ANYONE thinking of (driving) along the central area of Baja enroute to Santa Rosalia, La Paz or Cabo San Lucas, two words, USE CAUTION. The following happened to me this past Saturday.

On Thursday April 17th I left my home for a 10 day get away to Laz paz and Cabo San Lucas just to explore and relax. All went fine until my return trip home. I was driving a truck car but nothing flashy. A '94 toyota 2wd p/u with some bumps and bruises and in need of a paint job and a good washing. As I passed through San ignacio, saw a young guy in his mid 20's Kind of trying to hide behind a small tree talking on what appeared to be a walkie talkie or nextel.

I did not think nothing of this but thought his actions were strange as he tried to conceal himself from my view. about 10 miles down the road headed north, I saw a abeat old pick up truck fast coming up on me with it's head lights flashing off and on.

I slowed down and moved to the right as much as I could. (by the way, it is Saturday, we are the only two vehicles on the road and it is Approx: 10:oo a.m.) the truck pulled along side and I saw that there were 3 men in the cab of the truck and 5 others in the back of it. the passenger had a large machete and was swing it out the window at me. The guy in the middle looked familar, it was the guy on the walkie talkie. he was waving a large knife at me. the guys in the back had baseball bats and pry bars.

Needless to say, I hit the gas and tried to get away. This was going to be a robbery and I was not going down without a fight. I looked in my car for something to use as a weapon but all I had was my suit case and my cooler with cokes. I took out 2 20 something oz glass bottles of coke out of the cooler and shook them up. I was a good 300 -500 feet in front of them doing approx: 85 mph. I began to launch the cokes of the drivers side window with my left hand into the air, backwards.

The first one missed but the second one was a direct hit on and through the trucks windshield. The Winshield was toast and I am guessing that this shocked and scared the people in the truck as is quickly locked em up and turned left into a ditch.

I continued down the road at about 80 mph until for 35 miles until I got to Guerro Negro Check point just south of town.

They took all of my information and sent a Highway patrolman down the road to check it out. I was contacted by the highway patrol later that night at my hotel in Guerro Negro and told that they saw the spot where the truck wound up but it was gone. There was a lot of broken glass and some blood on the ground.

The highway patrol took a detailed incident report and told me that they would check local doctor's and hospitals for injured people and local repair shops for the truck. They apologized on behalf of the People and sent me on my way. Basically , without a truck or the bad guys guys, there was nothing they could do.

As I crossed the border yesterday I was relieved that my like was not taken on the side of the road by som punks who wanted to rob a gringo.

The Mexico I used to know and love is for the most part a memory. Baja is slowly becoming as over priced and dangerous as Los Angeles, only on a smaller scale not mention the T.J. shootouts

Unless I am in a caravan, will never drive Baja again. Maybe you should not either.
View user's profile
fishbuck
Banned





Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 12:36 PM


Sounds real enough.



"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.

A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein

"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck

View user's profile
sd
Nomad
**




Posts: 487
Registered: 3-19-2008
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 12:46 PM


It looks legit,

Very unfortunate. I have made many trips and met great people. It is too bad for the honest people of Baja that these thugs are making many tourists afraid to travel, and hurting the economy.
View user's profile
Hook
Elite Nomad
******




Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline

Mood: Inquisitive

[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 01:01 PM


Did you read this reply further down in the report of the attack?

After 20 years we just returned to Cabo, and I must say that we really didn’t feel as safe as we do in other resort areas of Mexico. Other than the newer hotels and the Mall area at the Marina not much has changed, other than an increase in poverty that attributes to robbery and crime.

We heard horror stories from some spring-breakers at our hotel. Jewelry & other vendors working with corrupt police, with the main intent of selling drugs; police not far away to witness the sale, youre arrested, you and your friends give all of your money to the (corrupt) police, or go to jail! Plain and simple... dont talk to vendors on the street, dont buy anything (drugs), and dont get overly intoxicated to get yourself arrested! Be 'smart'… be 'safe'… dont be 'stupid' & keep your eye open!

‘IF’ and when we return I don’t think we would be venturing outside the hotel!




View user's profile
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
********




Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 01:11 PM


I buy it as a true story. Why not? The guy wasn't driving through Vatican City. he was traveling through the wild west where there is little to no law and order.
Attempted robbery and what else and all they got out of it was a broken windshield. They'll be back.
View user's profile
Cypress
Elite Nomad
******




Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline

Mood: undecided

[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 01:23 PM


Why would anyone go to the trouble of reporting a false account?:?:
View user's profile
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
********




Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 01:27 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
Why would anyone go to the trouble of reporting a false account?:?:


You mean..Here, or to the police?
View user's profile
jack
Nomad
**


Avatar


Posts: 148
Registered: 12-21-2005
Location: Kamloops BC
Member Is Offline

Mood: Eat Heavy

[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 01:33 PM


In my opinion the Baja is changing way too quickly and all for the worst. I never used to give crime a second thought. Now it is an important consideration, you have to think twice about what hours of the day your going to drive, where you are going to spend the night, etc. I know there are arguments that there is as much or more crime in Canada or the USA. Overall that may be true, but it seems to me that tourists are the major target on the Baja. I am not worried in the least while traveling through Canada or the US, but lately I have been increasingly uneasy while traveling in Mexico. I'd feel a lot better if I could pack my 9mm.
View user's profile
Hook
Elite Nomad
******




Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline

Mood: Inquisitive

[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 01:34 PM


I'm not sure I'd report a REAL account to the police down there.



View user's profile
Hook
Elite Nomad
******




Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline

Mood: Inquisitive

[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 01:37 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by jack
I'd feel a lot better if I could pack my 9mm.


Oh, brother, AMEN!

Smuggling one down would be very easy but I cant figure any way around the repercussions of ever having to use it.




View user's profile
ELINVESTIG8R
Select Nomad
*******




Posts: 15882
Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 01:44 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
Quote:
Originally posted by jack
I'd feel a lot better if I could pack my 9mm.


Oh, brother, AMEN!

Smuggling one down would be very easy but I cant figure any way around the repercussions of ever having to use it.


Just tell the police you took it from the bad guy just before you used it on him. Make sure it's not registered in your name in the USA in case the police do a USA registration check. Also, please make sure the bad guy is dead so he cannot testify against you. A dead bad guy is no big deal.
Just stick to your story when questioned. Well, that is unless the police decide to torture you by shooting Coca Cola fizz up your nose to get the truth out of you. Believe me that one works.

Disclaimer: This post is a work of fiction. Any similarity to any person living or dead is merely coincidental.


[Edited on 4-29-2008 by ELINVESTI8]




View user's profile
Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
******




Posts: 8088
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 01:52 PM


Very hard to believe this story.

Driving 85mph on baja's roads with one hand on the wheel and the other rummaging for coke cans. Then a direct hit on the windshield from a can of coke shatters it cutting the passengers and blood is found on the road?

I'm always the one believing people but this one seems like a tall one.
View user's profile
oldjack
Nomad
**




Posts: 350
Registered: 1-26-2006
Location: Los Barriles
Member Is Offline

Mood: retired

[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 01:57 PM


Maybe.... a rumor/half-truth could be started saying that in light of the continuing problems encountered by tourist... that the Department of Tourism will allow Baja visitors, with valid visas, to carry firearms... also the rumors should include a report of the tourist who, unfortunately, had to shoot a would-be robber who did not survive the criminal effort.... showing that there is a direct impact on the criminal activities and a bright future ahead...
View user's profile
lizard lips
Super Nomad
****




Posts: 1469
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: EARTH
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 02:15 PM


Here is my take.

I don't know the guy but I have investigated a lot of crimes and until you hear from someone who was there or from the bad guys, who still cant believe the direct hit on the wind shield, you have to go with it.

The one thing I don't understand is the blood, glass, and the "EXACT" location of where the bad guys left the road according to the police. That is the one of the things that troubles me a little!

By the way---------- Im sure the Federal de Caminos or any other police agency would not have called him at his hotel later that evening especially when he did not receive any property damage and was not injured just to tell him they saw debriS on the road....THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!

[Edited on 01/10/2007 by lizard lips]




View user's profile
Lee
Ultra Nomad
*****




Posts: 3597
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 02:20 PM
Active imagination


Quote:
Originally posted by oxxo
This report was posted today on Trip Advisors Baja Forum. It was posted by "longhornjohn" who has been a member of that Forum for about one year and lists his location as Lompoc, CA. I don't know if it is true or not. I am posting just for informational purposes.

*******************************
I looked in my car for something to use as a weapon but all I had was my suit case and my cooler with cokes. I took out 2 20 something oz glass bottles of coke out of the cooler and shook them up. I was a good 300 -500 feet in front of them doing approx: 85 mph. I began to launch the cokes of the drivers side window with my left hand into the air, backwards.


This COULD happen but it isn't ringing true for me either. This guy is CRUIZIN' at 85 mph, fumbling in his cooler for ''Cokes'' to use as a weapon. 85 mph? Not just Coke ''cans'' but 20 oz bottles out the window at a car in back 300'-500'? He scores a direct hit with 1 of 2 bottles?

Don't think so.

Maybe the car chasing him was 50' back -- and he was doing 50 mph and had a six-pack.

Just doesn't sound right.

Anyway, this got me thinking about how to prepare for a scenario like this if it were to really happen. What's a good weapon to have on the passenger seat or close proximity?

Flare gun? (Think something to throw or fire since you're being chased.)




US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.

What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
View user's profile
Hook
Elite Nomad
******




Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline

Mood: Inquisitive

[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 02:35 PM


When a question of believability comes up, you all have always heard me pose the question.............what would be his motive for making the story up?

Loves to write fiction on boards for jollies?
Wants to limit tourism down there?

Of all the travel sites to foist this upon, tripadvisor would be one of the last I would suspect someone doing this. Honesty is what it is all about.

I think the likelihood of it happening outweighs the motivation for fabrication.

Hey, I've driven 85 on Hwy 1 with one hand.......




View user's profile
vandenberg
Elite Nomad
******




Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
Member Is Offline

Mood: mellow

[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 02:36 PM


Time to trade my 250 for something tougher.:?::?:

hummer.jpg - 36kB




I think my photographic memory ran out of film


Air Evacuation go to
http://www.loretobarbara@skymed.com
View user's profile
Hook
Elite Nomad
******




Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline

Mood: Inquisitive

[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 02:52 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by vandenberg
Time to trade my 250 for something tougher.:?::?:


I've got an Uncle who will put you behind the wheel of a vehicle like that.............even pay you to drive it.




View user's profile
Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
*****


Avatar


Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 03:00 PM


I thought the only glass bottles of coca cola were the 8 oz ones, even in Mexico... though sometimes I am wrong. Does anyone remember seeing 20-something oz glass ones, the size reported thrown?

Nena




Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
View user's profile
mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
********




Posts: 20012
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Online

Mood: Hot n spicy

[*] posted on 4-29-2008 at 03:10 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Very hard to believe this story.

Driving 85mph on baja's roads with one hand on the wheel and the other rummaging for coke cans. Then a direct hit on the windshield from a can of coke shatters it cutting the passengers and blood is found on the road?

I'm always the one believing people but this one seems like a tall one.


lots of straight stretches north of san ignacio, easy to believe he was driving 85+ with one finger on wheel.

very easy to hit a car directly behind you with little effort of throwing or aiming. soft lob upward from a car moving 85 mph, and force of apparent wind will rapidly slow it down from launch velocity, and next fast car behind you will take a 60+ mph fast ball in the face.

surprised that someone would do it on 2nd try, but bet anyone could do it w/in 5 tries.
View user's profile
 Pages:  1    3  ..  6

  Go To Top

 






All Content Copyright 1997- Q87 International; All Rights Reserved.
Powered by XMB; XMB Forum Software © 2001-2014 The XMB Group






"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen. The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez

 

"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt

 

"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes

 

"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn

 

"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law







Thank you to Baja Bound Mexico Insurance Services for your long-term support of the BajaNomad.com Forums site.







Emergency Baja Contacts Include:

Desert Hawks; El Rosario-based ambulance transport; Emergency #: (616) 103-0262