A truck driver was killed during an attempted robbery early Tuesday morning, August 11, on the Nuevo Teapa–Cosoleacaque highway in the southern region of the state of Veracruz.
David Estévez Gamboa, national president of the National Association of Transporters (ANTAC), confirmed the death of the male driver and stated that he belonged to the transporters’ organization.
According to available information, the driver, identified as Eduardo, arrived seeking help at a restaurant area located in the Las Palmas neighborhood, in the municipality of Ixhuatlán del Sureste.
A few minutes later, he collapsed due to severe bleeding caused by gunshot wounds he had sustained during what was allegedly an attempt to steal his truck.
Witnesses quickly alerted the authorities, who arrived at the scene. However, the young man was already showing no signs of life. Personnel from the Veracruz State Attorney General’s Office were responsible for removing the body from the scene.
“I have received the report. He was one of our members. They have already identified him as being from ANTAC. He was shot there in Nuevo Teapa while they were trying to take his truck, and he lost his life,” said the transporters’ leader during an interview.
Estévez Gamboa added that although there has been a reduction in cargo truck robberies, attacks against transport workers continue to occur in Veracruz, a situation that he said must be addressed by authorities.
He explained that between the previous week and the current week, in addition to the killing of the truck driver, another vehicle robbery was reported on the Las Vigas highway, in the municipality of Perote.
“Robberies are still happening, although they have decreased by 10 percent. We have very clear statistics, and we also want to point out that there have been important meetings with the National Guard,” he stated.
Source: jornada
