Emergency crews on the scene at SCI Phoenix prison on Thursday morning following an accident during a training exercise. (6abc)
Five people were injured Thursday morning in an accident during a training exercise at SCI Phoenix prison.
Officials said the accident happened at about 9:50 a.m. during the exercise at the Skippack Township prison.
According to authorities, three members of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, a Pennsylvania State Police trooper and an FBI Philadelphia agent were injured.
All have been transported to area hospitals for treatment.
“Staff from the Montgomery County Bomb Squad were installing an explosive device for a later class when it prematurely exploded,” according to a statement from a prison spokesperson.
Department of Corrections staff was not involved in the training.
Video from Chopper 6 showed a large police presence and two medical helicopters at the scene.
A charred car was also seen in a field on the prison grounds.
The FBI and Pennsylvania State Police will jointly investigate the cause of the detonation.