Taxi driver Joel Hernández missing in Veracruz, Mexico

Joel Hernández Hernández, a 33‑year‑old driver of taxi XL‑7816 in Xalapa, vanished after a trip on 28 July. He told fellow drivers he would travel to Coatepec and then to the community of Cerro Gordo in the municipality of Emiliano Zapata. After 14:00 h he lost all contact and did not return home that night.

Using the taxi’s GPS, authorities located the vehicle in Carrizal, also in Emiliano Zapata, but Hernández was not present. The taxi was seized and placed in a secure lot while the State Attorney General’s Office continues its investigation. Family members say the driver always kept in touch during long trips and note that a bag of clothing was found in the trunk, though his phone, wallet and other personal items have not been recovered. They have appealed for intensified search efforts, urging officials to act swiftly.

The case remains under investigation, with no arrests or confirmed leads reported.