Prisoner Bus Crash Snags Stevenson Expressway
UPDATED 04/27/12 11:26 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The outbound Stevenson Expressway was snagged Friday morning when one Cook County Sheriff's prisoner bus rear-ended another in a convoy.
Illinois State Police says the two Cook County Sheriff's prisoner buses were involved in the crash just after 8 a.m. on the outbound Stevenson just before the Pulaski Road exit. The buses were transporting prisoners from the Cook County Jail to Stateville Prison in Joliet.
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Bus number two in the convoy couldn't stop in time when traffic slowed on the expressway, and crashed into bus number one in front of it, the Sun-Times Media Wire reported.
In total, the buses were transporting 106 inmates.
In total, there were four buses and a lead car. The fourth was empty in case of a breakdown and to make sure nothing happened on the other three buses.
The buses were deliberately following each other so closely that no other vehicles could get between then, the wire reported.
All but one of the inmates were taken to Cermak Health Services at the Cook County Jail to be checked out. They will then be reloaded and returned to Stateville.
One detainee and a correctional officer were taken to Mount Sinai Hospitals with minor injuries.
Sheriff's office spokesman Frank Bilecki said the inmates did not cause any trouble when the incident happened. They were expected to be returned to Stateville by the end of the day.
CBS 2 producer Chris Selfridge reported the Stevenson was stopped at Pulaski Road as of around 8:25 a.m., and was barely moving a mile west at Cicero Avenue.
