A three-car collision happened around 11:50 a.m. on Oglethorpe Highway in front of the Kroger grocery store in Hinesville.

The driver of a Jeep told police she was on the phone at the time of the impact, according to Cpl. Jeremy Craig with the Hinesville Police Department Traffic Division

The Jeep driver hit the Hyundai in front of her, which then caused that car to hit a Nissan.

A passenger in one of vehicles that was hit was transported to Liberty Regional Medical Center for evaluation for back and neck injuries, Craig said.

It was also still unconfirmed if the vehicle that was initially hit by the Jeep had working brake lights, Craig said.

The driver of the Jeep “will be receiving citations for the results of the accidents,” he said.

All three vehicles where towed from the scene.

Sgt. 1st Class Mitchell Faircloth and Staff Sgt. Javas Hall, both with the Georgia Army National Guard, witnessed part of the accident.

“We were coming to get something to eat, we pulled into the parking lot, we heard the initial impact,” Faircloth said.  “Once we heard initial impact, we turned around, we witnessed the secondary impact. And by the time we witnessed the secondary impact, there was three vehicles involved.”

“Instinct kicked in and we rendered aid to the pedestrians involved in the accident,” Faircloth added.

Faircloth and Hall said they helped EMTs get a passenger out of their vehicle and onto a backboard to be transported.

“Any time you have a situation like that, instinct kicks in and your skills and your training takes over. You’re generally concerned for the welfare of personnel,” Faircloth said about using their soldier training.