UPDATE: Rear-end accident sends three to hospital

Officials said a one-ton pickup rear-ended a car Wednesday afternoon on East Fourth Plain Boulevard near the Interstate 5 northbound offramp, sending three to local hospitals.

The crash happened around 1:40 p.m.

According to a Washington State Patrol bulletin, Chantielle Johnston, 37, of Vancouver was taking the exit from I-5 north to Fourth Plain in a 1979 Volvo. Johnston stopped for a pedestrian and was rear-ended by a Dodge Ram pickup driven by Donald Henderson, 70, also of Vancouver.

Johnston and her passengers, Wayne Johnston, 37, and Zoe Johnston, 10, were sent to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center with possible neck injuries.

Henderson had no reported injuries, state patrol said. He was cited for following to close.

While crews were responding to the accident, firefighters set up traffic cones to divert other cars around the accident and emergency vehicles.

“People weren’t paying attention to what they were doing and we had another rear-end accident right next to the (fire) engine,” Murray said. “Please pay attention to the roadway and vehicles around you. We’re trying to make as safe a work space as possible.”

The Vancouver Fire Department AMR also responded to the scene.