Three prisoners were rushed to Northumberland Hills Hospital after the air conditioning unit in their transport vehicle stopped working on July 18, 2020.
Shortly before 6 p.m. a transport unit carrying six prisoners from the Napanee/Quinte West area was headed to the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, but stopping at Tim Hortons on County Road 28 in Port Hope, just north of Highway 401 may have saved their lives.
When the two Correctional Officers exited the cab, they could hear prisoners trying to get their attention.
Officers quickly determined there was a malfunction in the air-conditioning unit that is supplied to the prisoners and it had stopped working. It’s unknown when it stopped working along the journey, or even if it was working from the beginning, but the prisoners had no way to notify officers of the emergency until they had stopped.
There is a separate air conditioning unit in the cab of the unit that was functioning.
Each prisoner has a separate metal compartment and the windows do not open.
A number of paramedic units along with a supervisor were on scene in the Tim Horton’s parking lot.
There were also a number of Northumberland OPP and a Port Hope Police officer on scene.
Police escorted the three ambulances carrying the prisoners that suffered heat related injuries to hospital.
The three that weren’t transported had their vitals taken and were given bottles of water.
One prisoner that briefly spoke with Today’s Northumberland said they were grateful for the Correctional Officers quick response in getting medical attention.
Another prisoner van was dispatched to the parking lot to pick up the prisoners to carry on to Lindsay.
It’s unknown the conditional of the three that were taken to hospital.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
