LINDON, Utah (KUTV) — Two young girls were discovered in a refrigerated trailer after a truck lost a tire and caused a crash on I-15 on Wednesday.
Jacob Ortell Scott, 28, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated child abuse. According to authorities, the girls, aged 12 and 14, are siblings and were not being trafficked.
The crash occurred as Scott's tractor-trailer, initially described as a dump truck, lost a tire that struck two other vehicles, causing minor injuries. Following the initial impact, a semi-truck rear-ended a passenger car, resulting in further collisions.
Utah Highway Patrol Troopers investigated the scene. One trooper reported seeing “two sets of eyes” in the trailer, leading to the discovery of the girls, who had reportedly been inside since leaving Huntington, Utah, approximately two hours earlier.
The trailer's thermostat was set to 30 degrees Fahrenheit, with temperatures dropping to 29.5 degrees at one point. Emergency response included the Utah State Bureau of Investigation and personnel from the Department of Child and Family Services.
Scott was subsequently taken into custody and booked into the Utah County Jail.