Inmates Injured After Texas Prison Roof Collapses

Authorities say the roof of a privately run East Texas prison has collapsed, temporarily trapping dozens of inmates and injuring 20 – 10 of whom went to nearby hospitals.

Texas prison system spokesman Jason Clark says wallboard fell from the ceiling of a housing area. It happened midday Saturday at the Diboll Correctional Center about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northeast of Houston.

Warden David Driskell says 84 inmates were in the area and many were trapped briefly. Diboll police Sgt. Brandan Lovell says 20 inmates were injured, with 10 taken to hospitals. Driskell said the others were treated at the scene for minor injuries and none appeared life-threatening.

Prison officials were trying to determine what caused the collapse.

The 518-bed minimum-security facility is operated by Centerville, Utah-based Management & Training Corp.