Inmate killed when NJ State Prison van hits flatbed truck

A state prison inmate was killed and another seriously injured when a Department of Corrections van struck a flatbed truck in Cumberland County Thursday afternoon, State Police said.

Police said Thursday they were still  investigating the crash, which occurred in the southbound lane of Route  55 at 1:43 p.m.

A Bayside Prison State Department of Corrections van, which was occupied by two corrections officers and two inmates, struck the flatbed truck at milepost 24.9, State Police said. Just before 4 p.m., all lanes of the road remained closed in the area of the accident.

Both inmates were transported to Inspira Medical Center in Vineland, where one was pronounced deceased and the other remained hospitalized, State Police said.

Both corrections officers were transported to Atlantic City Medical center, also with serious injuries.

The cause and circumstances surrounding the crash are currently under investigation, State Police said.

Police have not yet released the identities of any of those involved.