Police: 9 Dead In 'Horrific Case Of Immigrant Smuggling'

SAN ANTONIO (CBSLA.com) — Nine people have died and at least 20 others were found locked inside a tractor-trailer in Texas in what authorities have called a "horrific case of immigrant smuggling."

Investigators say the tractor-trailer was parked outside of a Walmart in San Antonio where temperatures topped 100 degrees on Saturday.

A store employee became suspicious after someone got out of the trailer begging for water late Saturday night.

That employee called 911.

"Our paramedics and firefighters found that each one of them had heart rates over about 130 beats per minute, which again, they were very hot to the touch," said San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood.

Hood said those in the trailer were left there without any signs of water.

"So you're looking at a lot of heat stroke, a lot of dehydration," he added.

At least two school-aged children were also locked in that trailer.

The Associated Press reported that 28 people were taken to hospitals, 20 of whom were in serious condition. The remaining 8 sustained lesser injuries, such as heat stroke.

The driver of that trailer has been arrested.