The Denver Channel
LINCOLN COUNTY, Colo. — A prisoner and a corrections officer were killed Monday when a prison van lost control on icy roads and crashed in Lincoln County.
Officials said the 2006 Ford van was westbound on Interstate 70 between Limon and Genoa when it when veered into the median and rolled around 11 a.m.
“The van lost control on the icy roadway,” said Colorado State Patrol spokesman Trooper Nate Reid.
The vehicle rolled one time and came to rest on its wheels.
There were 11 people in the van when the crash occurred — nine prisoners and two guards.
All of the prisoners were unrestrained, Reid said. A female guard driving the van was killed. She was wearing a seat belt, Reid added.
All of the prisoners were accounted for and transported to Lincoln Community Hospital in Hugo with moderate to serious injuries. The other guard, a man who was not restrained, was also transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
The crash occurred at mile marker 389, 5 miles east of Limon. The right lane of eastbound I-70 was closed for several hours while the crash was investigated.
The victims have not been identified. The guard who died was an employee with Corrections Corporation of America.
“We are deeply saddened for the loss of a dedicated correctional officer and an inmate entrusted to our care at CCA Kit Carson Correctional Center,” said Damon Hininger, CCA president and CEO. “We offer our heartfelt condolences to their families and friends, and hope for a speedy recovery to those injured in this tragic accident.”
The CSP continues to investigate.
CCA said is believed high winds along a short stretch of I-70 were a contributing factor in the accident.
The van, owned by CCA, was pulling a trailer. It was one of two vans transporting prisoners from the Kit Carson Correctional Center in Burlington (operated by CCA) to the Limon Correctional Facility (operated by the Department of Corrections).
Correctional staff and inmates in the second van in the caravan were not hurt.
Reprinted with permission from The Denver Channel