A three-car accident shut down a lane of traffic on Brooks Hill Road for more than one hour on Wednesday.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Brooks Hill Road at about 3:40 p.m., said Sergeant Laura Price with Island County Sheriff’s Office.

A South Whidbey man driving a silver Volkswagen Passat crashed into a vehicle after failing to notice two cars ahead of him were slowing down, Price said.

The vehicle rear-ended a red Pontiac Grand Am after the driver of that car slowed down for a third car that was turning left onto Crawford Road.

No injuries were reported.

According to Price, the driver of the first car, the Passat, said he did not see a turn signal or brake lights from the cars ahead of him, but there was enough time for him to slow down.

“There was plenty of road way and time to recognize that,” she said.

The man told police he was traveling between 43-45 mph in a 40 mph zone.

Both the causing driver’s vehicle and the Grand Am received substantial damage, Price said. Air bags in the driver and passenger seats of the Grand Am were deployed after both the front and back end of the vehicle were crushed. The front of the Passat was also crushed. The third turning vehicle was able to drive away with little damage, she said.

A $175 fine was issued to the causing driver.

“People need to be aware and pay attention to cars in front of you and must leave enough room to stop,” she said. “If you hit them, you are the causing factor.”