Arizona inmates, bus driver injured in freeway crash with big rig

A bus carrying 50 minimum security Arizona prisoners collided with a semitrailer Tuesday morning on Interstate 8 between Casa Grande and Gila Bend.

The driver of the bus and two inmates were seriously injured and taken to a Phoenix-area hospital. More than a dozen other prisoners were also taken to hospitals, along with two Department of Corrections staffers.

The bus, which was returning to Lewis Prison, slammed into the trailer, cutting the rig in half, before coming to a stop in the median.

Thirty prisoners were returned to the facility.

Westbound I-8 was closed for a couple of hours about 25 miles east of Gila Bend. A lane opened in each direction around 8 a.m.

OPEN: One lane has now opened on I-8 West at milepost 151. Expect delays. One lane is now open in each direction.

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) August 11, 2015

I-8 West remains closed at SR 84 (mile 151) because of a crash. I-8 East has one lane open. Expect delays.

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) August 11, 2015

KTAR’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

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