Five people were injured Wednesday morning in a three-vehicle collision at the Ashley Lake green-box site on U.S. 2 West.

Three adults and two children were transported to the hospital with minor injuries to the neck, back and chest areas.

Highway traffic was blocked in both directions for about 45 minutes and limited for two hours following the 8:30 a.m. incident.

Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Laramie Stefani said a man driving alone in a pickup truck had slowed and stopped to turn left at the green-box site. A second vehicle, driven by a woman with two child passengers, slowed down as it approached the pickup truck.

A third vehicle, a pickup truck driven by a woman with no passengers, reportedly didn’t notice the slowed or stopped vehicles and ran into the second vehicle — sandwiching it between the two vehicles, according to Stefani.

“There was extensive damage to the vehicles,” Stefani said.

Stefani said the highway speed is 70 mph, but the driver of the third pickup truck told him she was able to “hit the brakes at the last minute,” and he estimated she may have decreased her speed to 45 or 50 mph before the collision.

“I think it would have been a lot worse if she was going the full 70 mph,” Stefani said.

Stefani said all those involved were wearing seat belts.

“It seems to be a problem area for us — people not paying attention to vehicles turning into the green-box site,” Stefani said.

Marion Fire Department and West Valley EMS responded to the crash scene.

Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].