A multiple-vehicle wreck on West Oglethorpe Highway left three people injured and tied up traffic on the busy Hinesville thoroughfare Friday afternoon.

About 1:30 p.m., Evelyn Griner was driving a small compact vehicle eastbound on Oglethorpe and was attempting to turn into the Firehouse Subs parking lot when a white BMW, driving erratically behind her, swerved into the left lane to avoid rear-ending her, Georgia State Patrol Trooper Henry Gilliard said.

The BMW sideswiped a white Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Alvin Golden. That impact forced Golden’s truck across the center lane and into the westbound lane, where it struck a Ford Crown Victoria driven by Hinesville police Detective Joshua Heath head-on, Gilliard said.

Heath was not injured, but his passenger, Carolyn Canga, suffered minor injuries. The impact from the accident sent Heath's vehicle slamming into another Hinesville police vehicle, Gilliard said.

Meanwhile, Golden’s pickup truck continued farther into the westbound lane and struck a Honda Odyssey van, driven by Kiona Morrow, head-on, Gilliard said.

A wheel came off of the F-150 and struck yet another vehicle, causing minor damage, Gilliard said.

Gilliard said the BMW fled the scene, and officers are for looking for it.

Hinesville police Traffic Accident Investigator Lt. Bill Kirkendall said a woman had to be extricated from a vehicle and transported to Memorial University Medical Center, along with two others. 

The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, Liberty County EMS and Hinesville Fire Department also responded to the incident.

Patty Leon contributed to this report.