Three California adults were busted for child endangerment after five kids were discovered riding in a makeshift wooden box on the back of a pickup truck, according to a report.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said it received a call Tuesday about the welfare of “small children” spotted on Interstate 40 in Needles, the Mercury News reported.
Deputies stopped the vehicle and rescued the children, ages 1 to 13, riding without any restraints in the crate.
The box had “no ventilation, water, or air conditioning” despite the temperature outdoors being around 100 degrees, deputies said.
“Illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia and a shotgun were also located in the vehicle,” the department said.
The children, whose condition wasn’t released, were taken into custody by San Bernardino County Children and Family Services, authorities said.
Kenneth Standridge, 40, Zona Brasier, 39, and Aushajuan Hardy, 41, were all arrested on child endangerment charges in connection with the incident, the outlet reported. It’s unclear what their relationship to the children was.
Standridge also faces charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and driving under the influence.