Tarrant County prisoners hurt in Fort Worth van crash

A van transporting Tarrant County prisoners was rear-ended by another vehicle, injuring multiple people on Tuesday afternoon.

The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Department van was on a NB I-35 access road in Fort Worth and about to exit when it was rear ended by an SUV.

There were 12 inmates in the van at the time of the crash. All 12 prisoners and a sheriff’s deputy driving the van were taken to the hospital.

Medstar officials said two inmates appeared to have broken bones. The inmates were laid on stretchers on a grassy area next to the crash and stabilized before they were taken to one of five ambulances that responded.

The fire department said the two most seriously injured were two prisoners who were at the back of the van.

There were some challenges because the inmates van has bars for security and the inmates were restrained and some bound to each other. Medstar said sheriff's deputies arrived quickly and they were able to get everyone out without much trouble.

Medstar said two people in a Chevy Blazer that rear ended the sheriff's van were also seriously injured. The driver of the SUV had to be cut out of the vehicle.

All of the inmates have been accounted for by officials.