WELLS — Several people had to be taken to area hospitals, a vehicle caught fire, and one driver was summonsed for making an unsafe lane change, following a collision Monday afternoon on the Maine Turnpike in Wells.

Traffic along both lanes of the Turnpike, near mile marker 20, was delayed for a couple of hours as a result of the crash which was reported at 3 p.m., said State Trooper Anthony Keim.

Keim said an SUV operated by Henry Priebe, 56, of Oxford, was heading northbound when it changed lanes striking a pickup truck driven by Michael Starbird, 35, of Pittsfield. The impact sent Starbird through a median strip crossover.

Starbird’s vehicle entered the southbound lane and caught fire. Starbird and another passenger, Amy McPherson, 35, of Pittsfield, escaped, along with a 7-year-old boy. Starbird and McPherson were taken to Maine Medical Center with what appeared to be minor injuries.

Priebe and two teenage passengers were not injured, but Priebe was issued a civil summons – similar to a speeding ticket – for making an unsafe lane change.

Keim said that accident caused two other crashes involving drivers he described as “rubbernecking.” One driver had to be extricated from his car, but no serious injuries were reported. Several more people had to be taken to area hospitals.