Prison van smashes into Caffe Nero and three are taken to hospital

Prison van smashes into Caffe Nero and three are taken to hospital after driver suffers seizure

  • Driver of the vehicle had a seizure just before ploughing into the building at 9am 
  • Two escort staff and one prisoner were taken to hospital after the crash 
  • The other prisoner in the van was accounted for and transported to court 

A prison van has smashed into a Cafe Nero in Manchester and three people have been taken to hospital.  

The driver of the vehicle had a seizure just before ploughing into the building just before 9am. 

Two prisoners were in the van, one was taken to hospital along with two escort staff and the other was transported to court.   

A section of the road, Portland Street, is now closed and emergency services are still at the scene.

A prison van has smashed into a Cafe Nero in Manchester and three people have been taken to hospital

The driver of the vehicle had a seizure just before ploughing into the building just before 9am

Images taken from the scene show the battered van surrounded by shattered glass outside the cafe. 

A spokesman for GEOAmey, the prison transport company which provide the vans and drivers, said: ‘We can confirm a road traffic accident involving a secure escort van close to Manchester Crown Court today. 

‘The two escort staff on the van have been taken to hospital for injuries sustained in the crash along with one prisoner.

Images taken from the scene show the battered van surrounded by shattered glass outside the cafe

A spokesman for GEOAmey, the prison transport company which provide the vans and drivers, said: ‘The driver of the van appeared to have a seizure. He is now in hospital being examined’

‘A second prisoner has been taken to court. The van is still at the scene of the accident. The cause of the accident is being investigated.

‘The driver of the van appeared to have a seizure. He is now in hospital being examined.’

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: ‘At 8.55am on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, police were called to reports of a collision on Portland Street, Manchester.

Manchester Police are investigating into the causes behind the crash 

‘Officers attended and established a prison van had collided with a building.

‘Two people have been taken to hospital. It’s believed the driver of the van had suffered a medical episode.

‘An investigation is underway.

‘There was no third party involvement and no arrests have been made.’ 

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