Inmate, 3 prison staff members injured in crash involving intoxicated driver near Willis: Authorities

WILLIS, Texas – Two correctional officers, a sergeant, and an inmate were transported to the hospital Tuesday morning after being involved in a crash with an intoxicated driver in Willis, authorities said.

It happened in the 10000 block of N. IH 45 N. around 2:30 a.m.

Officials with the Conroe Fire Department were dispatched after receiving reports of a possible crash and fire. When CFD arrived at the scene, they found a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prisoner van against a center concrete barrier with extensive front-end damage. In the van were three prison guards and an inmate, authorities said.

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According to officers with the Conroe Police Department, the inmate and staff were traveling back from UTMB Galveston to the Skyview Correctional Unit in Rusk when the crash occurred. After the crash, the inmate, sergeant and one of the correctional officers were transported to a Conroe hospital. The inmate is in critical condition but is expected to survive and the staff members were in stable condition, TDCJ said. The other correctional officer was transported to Memorial Hermann - The Woodlands in stable condition.

A red Ford F-150 was in the middle of the northbound lanes with heavy damage to the left side, officers said. The driver, identified as 27-year-old Ian Michael Morris, was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with two counts of intoxication assault, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

Ian Michael Morris (Montgomery County Jail)

Officers believe the Ford hit the wall and began spinning, coming to rest in the roadway, when it was hit.

KPRC 2 has reached out to Conroe PD and TDCJ for updates on the inmate’s condition but was told they cannot provide any additional details at this time.

According to TDCJ, the inmate was received into TDCJ in April 2017 to serve 10 years for burglary of a habitation in Val Verde County.

Another vehicle was also involved in the crash due to it hitting the debris but there were no injuries.


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