LAREDO, TX – A grim discovery was made Sunday afternoon at a Union Pacific rail yard in Laredo, where six people were found dead inside a cargo train boxcar.
The Discovery
According to the Laredo Police Department, the bodies were found just after 3:30 p.m. in a rail yard located about 160 miles south of San Antonio. A Union Pacific employee discovered the deceased during a routine inspection of the rail cars and immediately alerted authorities.
Public Information Officer Jose Espinoza confirmed that no survivors were found within the boxcar.
Investigation Underway
The Laredo Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Texas Rangers have launched a joint investigation into the incident. At this stage, the identities, ages, and immigration status of the six individuals remain unknown.
“It’s a very early phase of the investigation. There’s not a lot to reveal right now,” stated Laredo police spokesperson Joe Baeza. Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of death or how long the individuals had been inside the car.
Environmental Factors
While the investigation is ongoing, officials noted that temperatures in Laredo reached the low-to-mid 90s on Sunday afternoon. However, it has not been officially confirmed if heat exhaustion played a role in the fatalities.
Official Response
Union Pacific, which operates across the U.S.-Mexico border, expressed sadness over the incident and stated they are working closely with law enforcement to provide any necessary information from their freight logs.
The area surrounding the rail yard remained active with investigators late into Sunday night as they worked to process the scene.
