Five injured in three-car accident in Jefferson City

Five people were injured in a 3-car accident in Jefferson City Thursday.

A Honda Civic driven by 32-year-old Rachelle Birdsong of California was leaving the parking lot near Applebee’s on Missouri Boulevard and proceeded to make a left onto west Missouri Boulevard.

Birdsong was hit by a Ford Explorer driven by 22-year-old Mallory Taylor, who was in the eastbound, inside lane of Missouri Boulevard.

The impact caused Taylor’s Explorer to cross the center lane and hit a Dodge Caravan driven by 40-year-old Monica Porter, who was traveling in the westbound outer lane.

All of the drivers were taken to the hospital for injuries. Taylor was driving two passengers, who both sustained minor injuries.

Traffic was rerouted temporarily to nearby parking lots while authorities cleaned up.