Posted on 02/01/2011 8:54:15 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
A Georgia truck driver is glad to be alive and on American soil Monday as he survived an attempted carjacking at the hands of Zeta gunmen over the weekend.
Alberto Muñoz, 37, was travelling to Veracruz to visit relatives on Sunday when a group of Zetas attempted to steal his truck near San Fernando, the same town where missionary Nancy Davis was fatally shot last Wednesday during a carjacking attempt.
While Davis died in a McAllen hospital, Muñoz was able to safely make it back to the United States despite taking gunfire and being beaten by the gunmen.
According to Muñoz, it all began when he was travelling south along Mexican Highway 101 in his late model red Ford pickup and came across a Zeta roadblock about 10 to 15 miles from San Fernando.
The Zetas were described as being between the ages of 18-25, all dressed in camouflage pants and black T-shirts as they hijacked other vehicles and robbed their occupants.
“They don’t know how hard one works to pay for what we have,” Muñoz said as he recalled his choice to run the blockade. “I wasn’t going to let them have my truck. I don’t know what happened to the others. I don’t know if they killed them or not.”
Seconds after running the blockade, a red Chevrolet pickup with five gunmen followed Muñoz and open fired in order to get him to stop. As Muñoz sped away, he called his wife in Georgia.
“I called my wife and told her that they were shooting at me so she could call the police, the army anybody,” Muñoz said.
Because his truck had a safety device that prevented from accelerating past 95 miles per hour, he wasn’t able to outrun his attackers. He then decided to slam on the brakes and make a U-turn thus traveling north back toward the U.S.
The chase continued and the situation worsened when a gray Jetta and a gray Ford pickup joined the pursuit. Once again Muñoz slammed on the brakes and made another U-turn in an effort to shake the attackers, but this time the gamble failed as the vehicles boxed him in forcing him to stop.
The red Ford pickup that Muñoz drove has a rear windshield completely missing and has four gunshot holes in the front windshield, just inches from where he was sitting.
“They cornered me, and pulled me off the truck, they knocked me down and began kicking me,” Muñoz said. “They threw me on the back part of my truck and continued to hit me. Then they drove toward a dirt road and pulled my shirt over my head.”
Muñoz suffered bruises and cuts to his face and his body from the assault.
He does not recall how far they drove but when the vehicle stopped, the Zetas dragged him out of the truck and forced him to kneel while one of the gunmen placed the barrel of a weapon to his head.
“They kept hitting me and said that I was one of their opponents and they were going to kill me,” Muñoz said.
As the torture continued, the Georgia truck driver was taken before two Zeta leading members who questioned him and told him to sign over the truck.
“Their boss asked me where I was headed and where I was from,” Muñoz said as he recalled the answer that saved his life.
“I told him Veracruz and he stopped, looked at me and said ‘Really? We are also from Veracruz.’ Then he said he was going to let me go.”
The unnamed Zeta leader told his group that Muñoz was a “paisano” or a native and was a “conocido” or acquaintance, even though the trucker stated that he has never had acquaintances with members of organized crime.
“They drove me to the highway and let me go,” he said. “ drove and drove until I was stopped by a military checkpoint, they took down my information, took photos of my truck and let me go. I drove straight for the bridge.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Eddie Perez confirmed that Muñoz crossed through Veterans International Bridge Sunday afternoon.
Muñoz said he planned to return home as soon as his truck was repaired.
Andy Laine, a spokesman for the State Department, said that every time an American is looking to travel outside of the country they are advised to do as much research as possible into their destination and to take prudent security measures.
The State Department has a list of travel warnings and advisories designed to inform the public by giving them the dos and don’ts, Laine said.
For more information, visit www.travel.state.gov.
When asked about the Muñoz case, Laine stated that they had not received notice but they were saddened about the Davis case.
“We encourage travelers to do as much research as possible and make themselves aware about the dangers in a particular area, but ultimately its up to the traveler to determine their security precautions,” he said.
You drive into Mexico these days then you get what you deserve.
But I am happy to report that today, the odds of my family or me having any problems whatsoever in that criminal culture is ZERO.
For ten years now.
If you are looking for a little danger in your life, go to Mexico.
I got a brother and his wife who are heading to La Paz, now, to begin enjoying their retirement. I just shake my head.
I wonder how they would like it if WE invaded THEIR country.
Buy life and burial insurance if you go to Mexico.
If you’re a truck driver going to Mexico, bring plenty of grenades!
*I wonder how they would like it if WE invaded THEIR country.*
We did about 150 years ago when they started a war with us.
We easily defeated them, but stupidly gave half of it back and paid them for the part that we won fair and square under the rules of conquest.
I think a bullet proof vehicle would be in order with no engine governor.
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