On Monday, US police made a macabre discovery in San Antonio, Texas, not far from the border with Mexico. Dozens of people were found dead in a truck, and several have since died in hospital.
A total of 53 of the people in the truck are now dead.
Two people are charged in the case, among them a 45-year-old man who is said to have driven the truck. He claims not to have known that the air conditioner in the truck did not work, according to BBC.
– MANY DEAD: When the police patrol first arrived at the truck, several were found dead, both inside and outside the truck. Photo: Eric Gay / AP / NTB
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Hidden in bushes
The driver is said to have been arrested when he hid in the bushes near the truck. According to Mexican officials, he first pretended to be one of the surviving passengers.
After the deaths became known, the driver’s co-accused is said to have said that the driver said that he was not aware that the air conditioner did not work.
– They suffered from heat stroke and exhaustion. There was a chilled tractor trailer, but there was no visible working AC unit on that rig, fire chief Chief Charles Hood said on Monday.
The area had temperatures up to 38 degrees that day.
– INVESTIGATOR: Police are investigating the incident as human trafficking. Photo: Eric Gay / AP / NTB
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Risks the death penalty
The two accused now risk the death penalty if they are found guilty of human trafficking. Two more men are also suspected of being involved in the case.
Among the dead were 27 Mexican nationals, 14 from Honduras, seven from Guatemala and two from Salvador. The latter are still not identified.
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