Two girls found locked inside trailer of rig involved in pile up crash on I-15

Two girls were found locked inside the trailer of a semi truck involved in a pile-up crash on Interstate 15 on Wednesday. 

The incident happened on September 17th on I-15 in Lindon, Utah at 11:15 a.m. 

According to Fox 13, 28-year-old truck driver Jacob Ortell Scott was traveling north on I-15 when he lost a tire. The tire then bounced over the barrier wall and struck two passenger cars, causing all three vehicles to come to a stop. A second tractor trailer then crashed into a passenger car in the slowed traffic and pushed it into several other vehicles. Several minor injuries, one serious injury, and one critically injured person were reported in the crash.

The Utah Highway Patrol responded to the scene. During the investigation, one officer reportedly noticed “two sets of eyes” inside of the refrigerated trailer driven by Scott, reported KJZZ. “Scott looked surprised,” when officers initially questioned him about the people inside of the trailer, “but then told the Trooper there were kids in the trailer.”

Investigators soon discovered a 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl locked inside of the trailer, which was set at 30 degrees. Bedding was also found inside of the trailer, which was found to be 29.5 degrees at the time of the investigation. 

Agents with the Utah State Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Child and Family Services found that the girls were being taken to Salt Lake City from Huntington, an approximately two hour drive. 

It is unclear whether the girls were related to Scott, were being kidnapped, trafficked, or otherwise. Scott was arrested on suspicion of third-degree felony aggravated child abuse.