Prison van overturns on A27, shutting road between Eastbourne and Brighton

The van has overturned on the carriageway after colliding with a lorry on the A27 at Lewes, between the A26 Southerham Roundabout and A277 Brighton Road.

A 29-year-old man has sustained serious injuries, police said, and an air ambulance is on scene.

A police spokesman said: “At 10.55 on Monday (August 10), police were called to a crash involving an HGV lorry and a security van transporting a prisoner.

“A 29-year-old man is reported to have suffered serious injuries in the collision. Rescue and recovery work continues at the location.

“The road is currently closed in both directions between Ashcombe and Southerham roundabouts.

“Traffic is severely gridlocked in the area and is expected to remain so until later this afternoon

“Please avoid the area while this incident is ongoing.

“Anyone who witnessed what happened is asked to report online or call 101, quoting Operation Onyx.”

Pictures show a number of ambulances and fire engines at the scene and long queues of standstill traffic.

Melanie Beck, an eyewitness near the scene, said: “The driver of the lorry looks to have walked away unhurt. Paramedics are working on a man rescued from the skylight of the prison van. Another had to be cut free from the vehicle. More and more emergency services are arriving.”

A spokesman for East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said: “We were called at 10.59am to attend a road traffic collision involving one HGV and one van on A27 Lewes Bypass.

“Crews from Battle, Uckfield, Seaford, Lewes and Preston Circus are currently in attendance. Four people were reported trapped. Three have been extricated and crews are working on extricating the fourth.”

Sussex Police warned motorists to avoid the area.

A spokesman said: “Police were called to a road traffic collision involving a van and HGV on the A27 at the Lewes bypass at 10.55am on Monday (10 August).

“The road is closed in both directions between Ashcombe and Southerham roundabouts.

“Please avoid the area while this incident is ongoing.”

GEOAmey, which provides prisoner escort and custody servies (PECS) for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), added: “A GEOAmey secure escort van has been involved in an incident on the A27 in Sussex near the Kingston roundabout this morning. Emergency services are currently on the scene.”