An 89-year-old woman was killed this week in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, when Gulf Cartel gunmen fleeing state police crashed their vehicle into hers. The incident occurred during a violent clash between cartel members and law enforcement, which included shootouts, road blockades, and the use of explosive devices.
State police spotted the cartel gunmen in a maroon GMC Yukon in the Camptestre Del Rio neighborhood on Matamoros’ eastern side. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspects fled, leading to a high-speed chase and exchange of gunfire. In their attempt to escape, cartel operatives carjacked vehicles to create blockades and threw road spikes across city streets to hinder police pursuit.
The gunmen sped down Division Del Norte Avenue, where they collided with an orange Kia Spectra carrying a 55-year-old woman and her 89-year-old mother. After the crash, the cartel members continued their flight, eventually crashing into a brick wall several blocks away. The suspects abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot, leaving behind weapons and explosives.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene of the first crash to assist the two women. The 89-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries, while her daughter was transported to a local hospital with serious but stable injuries.
Authorities secured the scene of the second crash and discovered various weapons and explosives inside the abandoned vehicle. State police guarded the area until Mexican Army personnel arrived to handle the explosives.
Matamoros, a key border city in Tamaulipas, has seen escalating violence as criminal organizations like the Gulf Cartel battle law enforcement and rival groups. Cartel tactics, including road blockades and the use of explosives, have increased the danger for civilians in the region.
The incident underscores the severe public safety challenges in cartel-dominated areas of Mexico, where innocent lives are often caught in the crossfire of organized crime and security forces.
