The 45-year-old Texas man who abandoned a truck full of migrants in searing heat that led to the death of 53 people was high on meth when he was transporting the people according to Democratic Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, in whose district the truck was found, Reuters reports.
Homero Zamorano, Jr., the driver, was found in the brush around the truck when it was found on Monday. Briefed by the US Border Patrol, Cuellar said Zamorano had methamphetamine in his system when he was detained. Zamorano is charged in federal court with human trafficking, with other charges likely to be added after an investigation.
The truck was carrying migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. It was found abandoned in an industrial zone of San Antonio on a day when temperatures in the area hit 103 degrees Fahrenheit.