A prison transport van full of inmates was forced to pull to the side of a busy Hobart highway this morning after smoke was seen coming from it.
The van was transporting several prisoners when the incident occurred on the East Derwent Highway at Old Beach around 9:30am on Thursday.
A spokesperson from Tasmania Police confirmed the incident to Pulse and said the Tasmania Fire Service were called to the scene after receiving reports of smoke coming from the van.
They said firefighters extinguished a “small electrical fire” at the scene, while police officers “transported a number of people from the van to the Risdon Prison Complex”.
The prisoners have since undergone medical assessments.
“All are clear and require no treatment.”
The spokesperson stressed that there was, at no time, any risk to the community.
