Inmate and two guards injured after prison van overturns on way to court
Three people have been injured after a prison van crashed into a lorry and overturned on its way to court.
The crash happened just before 11am today on the Lewes bypass in East Sussex after the security van broke down. Four people became trapped inside the vehicle, including two guards and an inmate who were all seriously injured.
The prisoner, 29, suffered a serious head injury and was in a critical condition, said Sussex Police. The lorry driver, a 58-year-old man, also sustained a serious injury and was taken to hospital.
Witness Melanie Beck earlier told the Sussex Express: ‘The driver of the lorry looks to have walked away unhurt. Paramedics are working on a man rescued from the skylight of the prison van.
‘Another had to be cut free from the vehicle. More and more emergency services are arriving.’
The road was left covered in debris and the emergency hatches on the roof of the van, which landed on its side, had been opened to help free those inside.
The lorry came to a stop near the central reservation of the A27 a short way down the road and appeared to be badly damaged.
Sussex Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward with information or dash-cam footage.
Detective Inspector Sue Neilson said: ‘This was a serious crash in which several people were injured and we are working to establish the full circumstances.
‘If you saw what happened or the vehicles involved immediately prior to this incident then we want to hear from you.
‘We’re also keen to speak to anyone who has dash-cam footage of the collision, or of the broken down security van prior to the collision which occurred between the Southerham roundabout and the Ashcombe roundabout.’
Police are warning of long delays and road closures in the area as investigations continue this afternoon.
A GEOAmey spokesman said: ‘Following the incident on the A27 in Sussex this morning, the three people on board have been taken to hospital with injuries.
‘Two of these are escort officers and the third is a prisoner. The condition of all three is serious but stable.’
An East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement: ‘We were called at 10:59 to attend an RTC involving one HGV and one van on A27 Lewes Bypass’.
‘Four persons were reported trapped. Four were extricated from one of the vehicles. Crews made the scene safe and left the scene at 13:40,’ it added.
‘The A27 will remain fully closed for some hours yet and the westbound carriageway may not reopen until into the evening.’
Anyone who witnessed what happened is urged to report online or call 101, quoting Operation Onyx.
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