Chain reaction crash clogged I-90 in downtown Spokane Wednesday

A driver attempting to merge onto Interstate 90 from the Maple Street on-ramp in downtown Spokane caused a chain reaction crash involving three other cars Wednesday afternoon, according to the Washington State Patrol.

All four cars were attempting to merge onto the freeway shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday. A Buick Lacrosse driven by 22-year-old Courtney F. Canova of Spokane hit a Scion driven by 27-year-old Zachary A. Schmidt of Spokane. A Ford F150 pickup driven by Charles R. Bartch, 57, hit Canova’s Buick, which then hit the Scion, causing it to hit a Kia Sedona driven by 48-year-old Kathy E. Smallwood of Sprague.

Schmidt was uninjured while Bartch and a passenger from Smallwood’s Kia were injured but not taken to a hospital. All the other drivers and three additional passengers were taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center for treatment.

Traffic on the freeway was backed up while the crash was cleaned up. Charges are pending, according to WSP.