The City of Linden has denied a claim of fault in injuries sustained by a Camden Work Release inmate while participating in a work release program with the city’s Public Works Department.

The individual was driving a tractor with a bush hog attachment on Highway 43 in order to cut grass around a city well that is located between the cities of Demopolis and Linden on August 28 at 1:50 p.m. A vehicle with rotating lights was traveling behind, and city officials said that other vehicles were driving behind as well.

According to officials, a tractor-trailer with Evergreen Transport passed the line of cars and the vehicle with rotating lights. The individual on the tractor was already committed to turning and could not move before the tractor-trailer hit the tractor’s reinforced bumper and ran over the bush hog.

The individual was promptly sent to Whitfield Regional Hospital in Demopolis with non-life threatening injuries to his side and back according to city officials.

City Attorney Woody Dinning said the individual and his lawyer may choose to accept the denial or file a lawsuit against the city.

The claim was denied during a city council meeting on Nov. 5.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, November 13 issue of the Demopolis Times.)