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Runaway Girl Flees Alleged Captor At Truck Stop

POSTED: 8:14 am EST November 20, 2006
UPDATED: 2:19 pm EST November 20, 2006

A 15-year-old California girl will be reunited with her family, thanks to some waitresses at a Westmoreland County truck stop.

The girl told Pennsylvania state police that she was driven across the country by a truck driver.

While the driver slept on Saturday night, the girl ran into a restaurant at the Flying J travel plaza in South Huntingdon Township, police said. Waitresses hid her in a back room and called for help.

"He said he was sleeping, she had to use the bathroom, and when he woke up, she was gone," supervisor Dorthia Argriakas said.

"I talked to him and I kind of kept him around while I called police again," waitress Emily Morris said. "They said to stall him, keep him here, and police came and arrested him."

The driver, Joseph Simon, 37, of Los Angeles, is charged with indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor.


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