As many as 7 dead in Alabama prison van crash

Department of Corrections spokesman Brian Corbett said the accident occurred on an isolated stretch of U.S. 82 in Montgomery County. Corbett said as many as seven deaths were reported, but the names of the victims were not immediately released.

The van was about 20 miles from the state prison in Bullock County, but Corbett said it was unclear whether it was carrying prisoners. Officials said they had difficulty confirming details about the crash because of the remote location.

"We have people still getting down there," Corbett said.

The Montgomery County coroner's office said forensics workers were on the scene.

The prison system often uses vans to transport prisoners to court appearances. The accident occurred about 20 miles southeast of Montgomery.