A routine morning on the Querétaro-Salamanca highway turned into a scene of chaos and violence this past Friday, August 14, 2026. During the early hours, a group of armed individuals attempted to hijack a commercial transport vehicle near the municipal landfill at kilometer 57, within the territory of Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato.
The attempted robbery was interrupted by members of the National Guard’s Division of Roads (División de Caminos), who were patrolling the area and detected the incident in progress. Upon realizing they were being confronted by law enforcement, the suspects immediately opened fire on the officers. This initial aggression triggered a heated exchange of gunfire directly on the asphalt, forcing a temporary shutdown of the major transit artery.
Following the initial confrontation, the assailants attempted to flee the scene, leading to a high-speed pursuit that extended along the federal highway toward the vicinity of Villagrán, near kilometer 52. In response to the threat, a massive security operation was deployed, involving both ground units and aerial support from the State Public Security Forces (Fuerzas de Seguridad Pública del Estado) and federal agencies to track down the suspects.
Remarkably, authorities provided a preliminary report stating that there were no injuries among civilians or security personnel during the intense firefight. As of the latest update, no arrests have been officially confirmed regarding the aggressors involved in the attack.
This incident has once again drawn attention to the precarious security situation faced by freight operators in the Bajío region. Transportistas and local commuters continue to demand greater protection and constant vigilance on these critical routes, which have increasingly become targets for organized criminal groups. For now, the highway has returned to normal operations, though the incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in securing Mexico’s major transport corridors.
Source: https://www.milenio.com
