Pictured is the crash scene Wednesday evening in Columbia. (Corey Saathoff photo)

Emergency personnel responded just before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to a three-vehicle crash with injuries on Route 3 at Eagle Drive near Columbia Middle School.

The northbound lanes of Route 3 were temporarily closed to traffic as Columbia police, fire department and EMS personnel responded to the crash.

Police said a 2012 Buick Verano driven by Robert Bircher, 71, of Highland, was attempting to turn left into the middle school from southbound Route 3 when it collided with a 2012 Kia Soul driven by Amya Ayers, 16, of Dupo, which was traveling north on Route 3. A 2015 Jeep Renegade driven by Michelle Deatherage, 53, of Freeburg, was also traveling north on Route 3 and struck the other two vehicles shortly after the initial collision.

A passenger in Bircher’s car, 70-year-old Janet Bircher, was transported by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. Ayers was transported by ambulance to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. Deatherage was also transported to St. Anthony’s Medical Center.

None of the injuries were classified as life-threatening.

Robert Bircher was cited for failure to yield (turning left) and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.