IOLA, Kansas—Nine people including 8 women inmates from the Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF) were injured in an accident just before 1a.m. Thursday in Allen County.
The TCF inmates had just finished their 3-11 p.m. shift at the Russell Stover plant in Iola and were returning to Topeka, according to David Thompson with the Kansas Department of Corrections.
The transport bus carrying 21 inmates turned onto Highway 169 and collided with a semi. The bus driver was seriously injured and transported to a Kansas City area hospital.
Eight inmates ere injured including 3 with bone fractures. All eight are expected to recover, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
The 13 other residents reported no injuries and were transported back to the worksite. As a precautionary measure, they were sent to a local hospital for assessment.
KDOC continues to work with law enforcement to determine the cause of the accident.
The Topeka Correctional Facility is the only correctional facility for female adults operated by the Kansas Department of Corrections. The current population is 762 women.