MARTINSBURG - An inmate at the Eastern Regional Jail has filed a lawsuit against the jail after he was injured while being transported in the jail's van.

David Dehaven filed the suit Dec. 3 in Berkeley Circuit Court. According to the suit, Dehaven was handcuffed and shackled while being escorted in a van from the jail to the Berkeley County Magistrate Court.

According to the suit, Dehaven was not wearing a seat belt.

Dehaven claims that during the trip, the driver of the van went through a red light, which resulted in a collision between the van and a sports utility vehicle.

The suit states that Dehaven was thrown around the vehicle and injured his left knee, left leg and foot.

Dehaven claims he endured pain and suffering and the damages were the direct result of the carelessness and negligence of the jail system.

He seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Attorney Lawrence E. Sherman is representing Dehaven. The case has been assigned to Judge David Sanders.

Berkeley Circuit Court case number 07-C-1310