Crash near Mount Vernon sends three to hospital

MT. VERNON – A three-vehicle crash on Highway 1 Tuesday afternoon sent three people to the hospital, caused a small fuel leak and closed part of the highway for about 90 minutes.

The Linn County sheriff's office said 38-year-old Brian A. Barth of Atkins suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and two shaken up teenage girls – Megan E. Cannon, 19, of Mt. Vernon and an unspecified passenger, were taken to a hospital by a parent after the collision about five miles southwest of Mt. Vernon on Highway 1.

At about 2:30 p.m. Barth's white pickup truck crossed the center line of Highway 1 while heading north.  The truck struck a northbound semi truck carrying Roberts milk driven by Michael F. Lynch, 49, of Mt. Vernon. A northbound Jeep Wrangler with the Cannon and her passenger then truck the semi, the sheriff's office said.

The collision punctured a few fuel tanks in the milk truck, causing a small spill on the road's shoulder. A hazmat team quickly responded to clean up the spill.

An ambulance took Barth to Mercy Hospital, the sheriff's office said. His injuries are believed to be no-life-threatening.

Lynch, Cannon and Cannon's passenger all refused treatment at the scene, but a deputy said that a parent later took the girls to the hospital.

The sheriff's office has not released details on why Barth crossed the center line in his truck.

Barth was charged with driving on the wrong side of the two-way highway.