Arizona Department of Public Safety vehicle in I-17 crash

Authorities say the southbound lanes of Interstate 17 are closed at Bethany Home Road after a four-vehicle crash involving an Arizona Department of Public Safety vehicle injured a trooper.

They say a prisoner being transported in the back of the trooper’s vehicle suffered minor injuries.

The extent of the trooper’s injuries weren’t immediately released Wednesday night.

State Department of Transportation officials announced the I-17 closure about 5:15 p.m.

The cause of the crash isn’t immediately clear.

TV video footage taken from the scene showed a silver-colored vehicle with a DPS seal on the sides and numbers on the roof.

ADOT reports miles-long backups in both directions. There’s no immediate estimate on when the freeway might reopen.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.