Police are investigating why a van carrying several prisoners to Auckland central remand prison, crashed at a busy intersection on Tuesday.
The First Security van was taking five prisoners from the Auckland District Court to the prison when it crashed on the corner of Queen Street and Wellesley Street in the central city at 3.45pm.
A witness says the prisoners were banging loudly inside the van for several minutes before they were let out.
The Corrections Department says one prisoner and prison officer were taken to hospital.
The other four were taken to prison in a separate vehicle.
Assistant regional manager Grace Smit says there was no risk to public safety.
