Posted on Wed, Nov 17, 2010 : 10:27 a.m.
Inmates taken to hospital after two-vehicle accident near Washtenaw County Jail
By Lee Higgins
Seven prisoners were taken to the hospital this morning after a van they were being transported in was sideswiped by another vehicle on Washtenaw Avenue in Pittsfield Township, township police Lt. Brandon Williams said.
The inmates were were being transported by a Florida-based company and none were in the custody of the Washtenaw County Jail, Sheriff Jerry Clayton said.
The van was merging onto Washtenaw Avenue from US-23 when it was hit by a vehicle traveling east on Washtenaw Avenue at 9:25 a.m., Williams said.
The van was on its way to the jail to pick up an inmate at the time, Clayton said. So far, no citations have been issued, police said.
No prisoners were seriously injured, but they were taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Comments
bigblue
Wed, Nov 17, 2010 : 11:48 p.m.
@saline. its called the prison inustrial complex!
4x4Saline
Wed, Nov 17, 2010 : 7:48 p.m.
Why is Washtenaw County using State money to contract with a Florida-based company to transport County prisoners? I think this needs to be investigated.
Ann English
Wed, Nov 17, 2010 : 7:38 p.m.
You say they were merging onto Washtenaw Avenue. "Merging" isn't the right word to use if the van came from the south and took a simple exit to eastbound Washtenaw. Motorists often have to stop and wait for traffic from the west to clear before getting onto Washtenaw. But "merging" is the right word for traffic exiting southbound US-23 onto eastbound Washtenaw. That Florida-based company apparently has a location north of Washtenaw Avenue. No matter which direction the van came from, several lanes have to be crossed over to get to the jail, and that's a short stretch of road to maneuver.