Emergency crews block Highway 16 East near PGRCC earlier this afternoon  photo courtesy PG RCMP

Prince George, BC – RCMP say an inmate at the Prince George Regional Correction Centre was ultimately responsible for the closure of Highway 16 near the facility this afternoon.

Police say the inmate was operating a tractor at PGRCC, when he inadvertently severed a telephone line that dropped down across both lanes of the highway.

No one was hurt, but the route was closed to traffic for approximately one hour while Telus and BC Hydro crews made repairs.

Fortunately for the inmate, no charges are being considered at this time.