Prison officials in Hawaii said an inmate was struck by a driver early Friday just minutes after the convict busted out of his cell.

The Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Matthew J. Ornellas Jr., 33, was seriously injured when a driver hit him along Kuhio Highway in Kauai around 1:10 a.m. Friday.

Officials said Ornellas remains in serious condition at a hospital and is back in police custody. 

Authorities said the driver made a U-turn and sped off after hitting the inmate. 

Ornellas scaled a razor-wire fence to break out of the Kauai Community Correctional Center right around 1 a.m, officials said. 

He only made it 100 yards from the jail before he was struck by the driver.

The inmate was serving time for promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree.

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.