A three-vehicle traffic accident Tuesday afternoon in Lakeside sent several people to the hospital.

According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Dave Mills, the accident occurred when a silver Chrysler Town & Country van traveling north on U.S. 93 rear-ended a silver Subaru. The van then traveled into the south-bound lane and collided head-on with a red Lincoln Navigator.

The van and Navigator came to rest in between Glacier Bank and Edgewater Motel and RV Park. Both vehicles had heavy damage and the airbags were deployed. Mills, who was assisting Trooper Jim Hawkins in the investigation, said the five people in the van and Navigator were transported from the scene by ambulance. Mills was not aware of their condition.

The Subaru had minor damage to the rear of the vehicle and its three occupants weren’t injured.

Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash.

South Kalispell Fire Department, Somers-Lakeside Volunteer Fire Department and Lakeside Ambulance responded to the scene.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker can be reached at (406) 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.