A vehicle transporting prisoners broke down Thursday in Morrisania, causing concerns among some nearby residents.

It happened around 1:30 p.m. on East 163rd Street, between Trinity and Tinton avenues. Police sources say 15 inmates were on board the broken-down bus.

Witnesses say they heard inmates screaming. Some believed a prisoner had escaped, but the Department of Corrections says the situation was under control.

News 12 is told that corrections officials followed protocol and brought in another bus to transfer the prisoners. They were headed to the Vernon C. Bain Center jail barge.

There was no word on what exactly caused the breakdown.