On the night of Friday, January 30, an armed robbery was reported against a family from Hidalgo traveling on the Arco Norte highway. The attack left two people injured: an elderly woman and a two-year-old girl, grandmother and granddaughter.
The preliminary report indicated that the family, who were merchants, were from the community of Huitel, located in the municipality of Tezontepec de Aldama, Hidalgo. They were traveling in their vehicle toward the state of Querétaro when one of their tires went flat after passing the Apaxco tollbooth.
The clock read around 11:00 p.m. Fredy, the father, was forced to stop the vehicle and pull over to change the flat tire. It was at that moment that two hooded men suddenly emerged from the brush and fired a couple of shots at the vehicle.
Inside the vehicle were Erika, his wife, who was shot in the right arm; his daughter-in-law; and his two-year-old granddaughter, who was also injured in the hip by a bullet. The men took advantage of the confusion and fear to steal two cell phones and approximately 20,000 pesos in cash, according to initial reports. They then fled in an unknown direction.
Emergency personnel responded to the report. The grandmother and granddaughter were taken to a hospital for specialized medical care. Their current condition is unknown.
Authorities indicated that an investigation has been opened, but there are no results regarding the arrest of the perpetrators. It should be noted that the Arco Norte highway is one of the most dangerous, and criminals often use rocks or tire spikes to block traffic or damage the tires of private and commercial vehicles to gain an advantage and commit robberies.
The Arco Norte highway has become a hotspot for motorists and truckers due to the constant assaults they suffer, some of which have resulted in shootouts and fatalities.
In September 2025, a meeting was held with the 26 chambers of commerce and associations that make up the Business Coordinating Council, along with the Military Zone and the National Guard, to reinforce security measures along the 98-kilometer stretch of the Arco Norte highway within the state of Hidalgo.
At this meeting, it was stated that business owners have been victims of numerous assaults and robberies, resulting in significant financial losses, in addition to the risks faced by drivers, some of whom have even lost their lives. As part of the planned actions, it was announced that a greater number of security personnel would be deployed, along with aerial patrols and other strategies to combat crime. However, the hotspots along this section of the highway remain high.
Source: lasillarota
