The permanent memorial along Quintana Road that honors the 53 people who died after being found in a sweltering tractor-trailer has been vandalized again, according to volunteers and police. Caretaker Angelina Olvera discovered several crosses knocked down on Wednesday, called authorities, and the San Antonio Police Department opened a criminal mischief investigation. For volunteers who have been trying to protect the site, it is yet another hit in a string of incidents that have made preserving the memorial a constant battle.
According to FOX San Antonio, officers were called around 9:32 a.m. Wednesday after a caller reported that crosses at the memorial had been struck and knocked over. Olvera told the outlet that only the Mexican crosses were tipped and that she had called police last week when a Mexican flag was removed and some items were burned. The outlet also reported that the site was partially burned in November 2022 and found vandalized again in March 2025.
City Weighs Lights, Cameras And Power Hurdles
District 4 Councilmember Edward Mungia said his office brought stakeholders together on June 1 to talk about lighting and security upgrades, but extending power to that wide, industrial stretch of Quintana Road has proven technically tricky. As reported by KSAT, Mungia is working with CPS Energy on options that range from larger wired lights to possible solar exemptions, while neighbors continue to press for faster action to deter theft and illegal dumping near the memorial.
A Site Built To Remember 53 Lives
The permanent installation, a circular plaza featuring 53 limestone boulders, each representing a life lost, was built to replace the makeshift crosses that appeared after the June 27, 2022 tragedy. The memorial sits in the 9600 block of Quintana Road and was designed as a durable place for families and neighbors to leave flags, candles and water, according to the San Antonio Report.
Investigation Ongoing As Volunteers Keep Tending The Site
SAPD told FOX San Antonio it is still unknown what led up to the latest offense and that the investigation remains open. Mungia has urged neighbors to report vandalism and request SAPD patrols, and Olvera says she has contacted council offices asking for cameras, "more lights" and other deterrents. Volunteers say they will keep repairing the crosses while city leaders and CPS Energy look for technical fixes to better protect the memorial in the long term.
