In a video, the doctor recounted how she and her family experienced terrifying moments when they were held at gunpoint and beaten during the assault on the Arco Norte highway.
Denisse Labastida’s testimony went viral on social media after she described the terrifying ordeal she endured with her mother, sister, and partner when a group of criminals intercepted them on this highway.
In a video, the doctor asked for help in sharing her story and denouncing the insecurity she says is faced by those who travel this route.
“Today, with all the pain in my heart and the helplessness I feel right now, I ask you to help me spread this story. On the Arco Norte highway, we were assaulted. They beat my sister, my partner, and me, while my mother suffered a heart attack in the back seat from the shock,” the victim recounted.
The case sparked widespread discussion on social media, where users expressed everything from messages of solidarity with the family to calls for increased security on the highway. There was also criticism and accusations directed at the authorities regarding the insecurity on the country’s highways, as well as testimonies from other users who claimed to have experienced similar situations in the area.
Meanwhile, the doctor reported that, during the assault, she, her sister, and her partner were beaten and threatened with firearms, while her mother struggled to breathe in the back of the vehicle.
According to her testimony, the family begged the criminals to allow them to call for an ambulance due to her mother’s condition; however, she asserted that they were denied permission.
“Seeing the people you love most with a gun to their heads, not knowing if they’re actually going to shoot or not, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone,” she expressed.
Denisse explained that, although she is a doctor, at that moment she felt completely powerless, unable to help her mother while they were victims of the assault.
The professional stated that material possessions became secondary, as her true concern was the safety of her family members. She also denounced the neglect she said exists for those who suffer crimes on this highway.
“We feel so vulnerable. Nobody helps you there on that road. Thank God we found ‘angels’ who helped us, and today my story is different,” she affirmed.
The doctor added that, after approximately ten hours, the only thing they received was a document to return to Tlaxcala or Puebla, a situation she described as a reflection of the lack of attention given to victims.
To date, authorities have not reported any arrests nor have they announced any progress in an investigation related to this case.
How safe is it to travel on the Arco Norte?
The case of Denisse Labastida has once again raised concerns about safety on the Arco Norte, one of the most heavily used highways connecting central Mexico and bypassing Mexico City.
According to information presented by authorities during the eighth interstate working group meeting with the concessionaire Ideal, robberies of cargo trucks and private vehicles increased between April and May of this year.
Figures from the Hidalgo State Public Security Secretariat (SSP) indicate that almost half of the robberies recorded on the Arco Norte highway occurred in the section corresponding to the municipality of Tula, while municipalities such as Atitalaquia, Emiliano Zapata, Tolcayuca, and Villa de Tezontepec also account for a significant portion of the crimes.
Authorities also reported that, from December 2025 to the present, 20 unauthorized access points allegedly used by criminal groups to facilitate their movement on this highway have been located and closed.
Which highway has the most robberies in Mexico?
According to information released by the Mexican Association of Private Security and Satellite Industry Companies (AMESIS), the highways with the highest incidence of cargo truck robberies in 2025 were the Mexico City-Querétaro highway, which accounted for 22 percent of reported cases, followed by the Córdoba-Puebla highway with 19 percent, and various sections of highway in San Luis Potosí with 16 percent.
The analysis also indicates that the State of Mexico, Puebla, and Guanajuato have the highest number of robberies reported nationwide.
Experts warn that between 80 and 82 percent of robberies are committed with violence and that, in many cases, criminals use devices known as “jammers” to block GPS signals and hinder the location of the vehicles.
Meanwhile, Denisse Labastida’s testimony continues to generate reactions on social media, where hundreds of users have demanded increased surveillance and action from the authorities.
Source: El Universa
