HOUSTON – Two deputies and six inmates safely escaped a prisoner van before it caught fire late Monday morning after a crash.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office said it happened at Jackson Street and Commerce Street in downtown Houston after a collision.
Witnesses told the Sheriff's Office that the driver of a pickup truck ran a red light and T-boned the prisoner van on the front passenger side.
Two deputies and 6 inmates evacuated this prisoner van before it caught fire at Jackson and Commerce before noon. Witnesses say a pickup driver ran a red light and hit the van. All are heading to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Video from Lt. M. Alvarado #hounews pic.twitter.com/p79swwWGZc
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) November 5, 2018
All involved were “shaken up” and hospitalized, but were released and are doing OK.
The inmates were arrested in Galveston County and jailed there, but all had outstanding warrants in Harris County, a lieutenant told KPRC.
Here's the "after" photo of the prisoner transport van and the pickup that collided with it. We're grateful no lives were lost. Thank you to our colleagues at @HoustonFire #hounews pic.twitter.com/ufJAo0p6wV
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) November 5, 2018
They were being transported to the Harris County Jail, and were less than a half mile away when the crash occurred.