Derrick's Story!

I am going to try to retell this story to the best of my ability. But it happened to my husband and I wasn't there. This is a story to tell you about how everything is thought to be the Gringo's (American's) fault in Mexico.

Derrick was on his way to a Pastor's meeting. He had our friend and fellow missionary with him, A.W. On the way to the meeting, they had to stop at a 7-11 to meet some Mexican Pastors, so that they could follow Derrick. As Derrick was waiting to turn left onto the road that leads to the 7-11, a nice, red LOBO(pretty much an F-150) rammed into the back of our Expedition. Thankfully we had our extension to our trailer hitch on, so that is what did all of the damage to the LOBO. We had no damage. But the guy that hit Derrick had been drinking and they could smell beer on his breath.

They eventually pulled over onto the side of the road. A.W. ran down to the 7-11 to get Pastor Jorge & Rosa. They also had a friend with them, Juanito. While A.W. was gone to get them, the guy was trying to tell Derrick that it was his fault because he didn't have his blinker on. He admitted to seeing his brake lights, but tried to use the "no blinker" excuse. Derrick told the guy that if they called the police, they would tell them it was LOBO man's fault and Derrick wouldn't be in any trouble. The man insisted on calling the police.

When Jorge, Rosa, & Juanito arrived, they all told him the same thing. They told the guy that he'd been drinking and it would not be Derrick's fault. OK, when Mexicans are telling a Mexican that, you'd think he would've gotten the hint. But he was drinking, so his thinking was obviously impaired. He insisted that it was Derrick's fault and he still wanted to call the police.

A cop drove by, and they flagged him over. The police officer was even telling the man that if he wanted to go through with all of this that he would be at fault and could go to jail. The man still insisted. So the cop said that they would have to impound both cars and LOBO man would have to pay for Derrick to get his car out.

When the wrecker came, it turned out to be Pastor Jorge's neighbor, and a friend of Derrick's! Derrick asked the cop what they could do to leave, because at this point they were very late for the meeting. The cop said to put 100 pesos (about $10) in the back of the cop car. When Derrick did that, LOBO man went livid! He was trying to say TO THE COP that Derrick couldn't do that and that it was Derrick's fault. The cop started yelling at LOBO man, "Do you want years? You want to go to jail for years? Be quiet!"

After the cop said to be quiet, LOBO man admitted that it was his fault. Derrick and the rest of them were able to leave.

It was a blessing that they had the cop that was there. He knew that LOBO man was trying to take advantage of Derrick because he was a foreigner and he wasn't going to let that happen. So now we have another chapter in our book of "Americans in Mexico."