Inmates, sheriffs injured in rollover

Three inmates and two sheriff's officers were injured when the vehicle they were in overturned onRoute 11 in northern New Brunswick on Monday, Department of Justice officials have confirmed.

Two of the inmates remain in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the third was treated and released back into custody.

The sheriff's officers, who were transporting the inmates from the Dalhousie Regional Correctional Centre to the courthouses in Bathurst and Miramichi, suffered minor injuries, officials say.

It's unclear why information about the accident only came to light on Thursday.

The exact nature of the inmates' injuries and where the two are hospitalized is also unknown.

Dave MacLean, a communications director for the Department of Justice, said only that the sheriff's van transporting the prisoners did not make it to court.

It left the highway near Nash Creek and overturned, he said.

"The end result was that two of our sheriff's officers sustained minor injuries. All three detainees also suffered injuries."

The Chevrolet Astro van was equipped with seatbelts, said MacLean. He could not say whether the occupants were wearing them.

The RCMP is investigating, said Const. Chantal Farrah.

The van came to rest in a field and three ambulances responded to the scene, she said.

Highway conditions were not good at the time due to a storm, said Farrah.

"Conditions were slushy up north. There were quite a few collisions on that morning in that area."

The rollover was one of nine accidents in that part of the province that day, she said.