March 28, 2023 3:15 a.m.

Rain and hail led to more than three freeway crashes on Friday afternoon.

An Oregon State Police report said troopers were dispatched to a three-vehicle accident on Interstate 5 about a mile north of the Scotts Valley area, just after 4:30 p.m. A hailstorm had passed through causing each of the southbound vehicles to slide off the roadway and crash. No injuries were sustained but two of the vehicles had to be towed away.

About a minute later a wreck was reported about a mile north in the northbound lanes. The SUV lost control and began to spin. The driver over corrected and spun the vehicle the opposite direction. The rear driver’s side of the SUV impacted the middle dividing barrier. That caused the front driver’s side to impact the dividing barrier. Several other accidents took place in the same area in a rapid amount of time due to the quick change of weather.

A few minutes later there was a single-vehicle accident northbound about two miles north of Rice Hill. A sedan hydroplaned and hit the center concrete barrier. The vehicle came to an uncontrolled rest on the shoulder. The driver was transported to PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend in Springfield for what appeared to be minor back and neck injuries.