Indiana Trooper Finds a 2-Year-Old Riding in a Truck With Only a Lap Belt During an Inspection; Truck Driver Cited and Truck Put Out of Service
An Indiana State Police trooper doing a commercial vehicle inspection in the Evansville area found serious trailer problems and a 2-year-old child riding in the front passenger seat with only a lap belt, according to a statement from the Indiana State Police Evansville District. The truck driver was cited, and the truck was placed out of service, CDL Life and ATruckDrivers reported.
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What police say the trooper found
The police released the details Oct. 29, 2026. Trooper Angermeier found what ISP called "critical trailer safety violations" during the inspection. He also noticed the child, who was seated in the front passenger seat wearing only a lap belt and was not in an appropriate child safety seat, according to police.
What happened next
The truck driver was cited, and the truck was placed out of service. An out of service order means the truck is not allowed to keep operating until the problems are fixed. According to ISP, the truck was parked in a safe location until the necessary repairs were made and a compliant child safety seat was obtained.
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What police did not say
Indiana State Police did not say when the inspection took place, what the specific trailer violations were, or which citations were issued. The reports also did not identify the truck driver or the child's relationship to the driver. Big Rig Daily is not guessing at any of those details.
What ISP said
"Whether you're driving a passenger vehicle or a commercial truck, safety must always come first, especially when children are involved," ISP said.
Why inspections like this matter
Roadside inspections are one way troopers check a truck's equipment, and in this case the inspection led to two separate problems being found: the trailer violations and the unsecured child. Police said only that the trooper noticed the child during the inspection.
Quick facts
- Where: the Evansville area of Indiana.
- Who released it: Indiana State Police, Evansville District, on Oct. 29, 2026.
- What was found: "critical trailer safety violations" and a 2-year-old in the front seat in only a lap belt.
- Result: the truck driver was cited, and the truck was placed out of service until repairs were made and a compliant child safety seat was obtained.
- Not released: the inspection date, the specific violations and the citations.
Big Rig Daily has also covered a recent Iowa stop of a semi with severely overheated trailer brake drums. To see how a truck is checked before it rolls, read the pre-trip inspection checklist.
A question for readers
If you have ever had a family member ride along in the truck, what do you do to keep them safe in the cab?
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