The locked truck was first reported by a nearby construction worker who heard cries for help from inside the vehicle. The San Antonio police, and the Fire Department arrived on scene around 6 p.m.
San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said during a press conference that rescuers were able to pull 16 survivors from the horrific vehicle.
“The patients that we saw were hot to the touch. They were suffering from heat stroke, heat exhaustion, no signs of water in the vehicle. It was a refrigerated tractor trailer, but there was no visible working ac unit on that rig,” Hood said.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus described the scene during a news conference. He also said that “Three individuals were taken into custody.”
The case has been turned over to federal authorities with Homeland Security Investigations of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement leading the investigation.
HSI agents have identified individuals in the truck as migrants. And are trying to identify which cartel or human trafficking group may be responsible.
Biden’s border crisis made worse by heatwave
Inside the US smuggling organizations sometimes pack migrants into trucks and cargo trailers after they have already crossed the border with Mexico. Then they sneak them past highway checkpoints operated by the U.S. Border Patrol.
