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Prisoners and security staff rushed to hospital after prison van crash

The G4S van crash
The G4S van crash

A prisoner and three security staff were taken to hospital yesterday after their van overturned on a busy north-east road.

The accident happened on the A952 Fraserburgh to Mintlaw road, just south of the Cortes junction.

And last night, locals claimed the road was as dangerous as the notorious Toll of Birness junction – and warned it was “only a matter of time” before someone was killed.

The prison van, which was transporting a custody from Fraserburgh to Aberdeen Sheriff Court, overturned at about 8.30am.

The road was closed for more than three hours while an investigation was carried out into the case of the crash.

An officer at the scene said the driver – employed by security firm G4S – suffered hand injuries and the prisoner had complained of a “sore back”.

The G4S van crash
The G4S van crash

Both were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by ambulance, while two other members of G4S staff were also taken to hospital as a precaution.

But nearby resident Deanna Wharton – who runs a kennel and cattery business near the scene – claimed it was a question of when, not if, a motorist is killed on the stretch of road.

She said: “I think we’ve been very, very lucky. But now cars are getting faster and drivers are getting more aggressive – I would not be surprised if there are fatalities.

“This used to be the main Fraserburgh to Aberdeen road. It was great. But then one day they decided to make the main road through Peterhead. We used to be the A92, now we’re the A952, so we’ve been demoted. They’ve spent a lot of money on the A90 but they’ve left us here. It’s not a good junction.”

Earlier this year, a young driver ploughed through her front garden, and Ms Wharton said she was not surprised to hear there had been another crash, warning strangers to the area were most at risk.

Ms Wharton said she was first alerted to the incident when the dogs in the kennels started barking at the build up of traffic.

Both lanes of the road were blocked and traffic for Aberdeen, Mintlaw and Ellon was diverted onto the adjacent A90 Fraserburgh to Peterhead route.

“They were jumping at the fence and barking at everybody,” she said. “I went out to put some rubbish out and the bobbies told me there had been an accident at the junction. I later saw the prison van being towed past our house towards Mintlaw.

“It must have been frightening. It’s bad enough in a car, but at least you can get out. But if you’re in one of those tin cans, who knows.”

Her concerns about the road were echoed by Mintlaw councillor Jim Ingram.

He said the Cortes junction is dangerous “for anyone unfamiliar with the road”.

The custody transport vehicle landed on its side just south of the Cortes junction
The custody transport vehicle landed on its side just south of the Cortes junction

“Whether that’s the case or not here I don’t know,” he added.

“It’s one for the police to investigate. I’m familiar with it but I’m always wary of the Cortes junction.”

Mr Ingram likened the blackspot with the notorious Toll of Birness junction north of Ellon.

Willie Galloway, head of operations for G4S court escorting, said: “One of our escort vehicles travelling between Fraserburgh police custody unit and Aberdeen Sheriff Court was involved in an incident on the A952 this morning just after 8.30am.

“There were four people in the vehicle, including one prisoner and three G4S colleagues.”

A police spokeswoman added that inquiries were “ongoing”.

And a council spokeswoman said it would be inappropriate to comment while investigations into the cause of the crash continued.