Two prisoners died, and several others were seriously injured after a prison transport van crashed in Alabama, state officials reported Thursday. An inmate was driving the Alabama Department of Corrections transport van that was involved in a fatal crash.
The single-vehicle wreck took place Wednesday in Dadeville, a small city about an hour east of Montgomery, while the Alabama Department of Corrections transported seven inmates to the Alex City Community-based facility.
Kelly Betts, spokeswoman for the prison system, confirmed inmate Jake Jones was driving the van. She said that it is the policy of the ADOC to allow certain inmates to independently operate motor vehicles after thorough screening.
Officials did not say who was driving the van at the time of the wreck or whether they were hurt in the crash. Also, they did not release the cause of the crash or the time of the crash.
Inmates Willie Crayton, Jake Jones, Bruce Clements, Thomas Bass, Heath Garrett, Shawn Wasden, and Richard Jackson were returning to the facility in Tallapoosa County after work when the van wrecked.
Both Clements and Jones were taken to a local hospital in critical condition for treatment. Clements ultimately died from injuries sustained in the crash, and Jones continues to receive treatment. Everyone else involved in the crash was treated for minor injuries. Crayton was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
Betts said the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating the crash.