A Lincoln County Jail inmate escaped serious injury afterfalling out of a work crew truck Wednesday afternoon in Brookhaven,Sheriff Wiley Calcote said.

Calcote said the pickup’s tailgate opened when it was preparingto stop at the intersection of Monticello and North First streetsaround 3:40 p.m. Wednesday. Thomas Jordan, 39, of Brookhaven, wasone of several inmates riding in the back of the truck when thetailgate opened.

“He had his hand propped on the tailgate, and when it did, herolled out,” Calcote said.

Calcote said Jordan was able to brace himself and sustained onlya “road rash” after landing on his side. Jordan was treated andreleased at King’s Daughters Medical Center.

“They checked him out to make sure he didn’t have any brokenbones or anything,” Calcote said.

Calcote said the truck was returning to the jail when theaccident happened.

“They had been out picking up trash on the roads,” the sheriffsaid.

Jordan was in jail on a charge of burglary of a dwelling, thesheriff said.

Calcote said the accident would not result in any changes toinmate work plans. He said a crew had returned to duties thismorning, although he was unsure if Jordan was among theworkers.

“We’ve got them all out and working now,” Calcote said. “They’repicking up county roads today.”