A Rosemont, Calif., man was in intensive care at Providence Medford Medical Center on Wednesday

A three-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 Wednesday sent six people to local hospitals, one with serious injuries, Oregon State Police said.

The accident occurred at around 11:45 a.m. about a mile south of Ashland near milepost 15.

Troopers reported that alcohol was a possible factor in the crash, but they declined to explain further. The accident is under investigation.

Stephanie Saldana, 20, of Ashland, was driving a white Honda Acura north in the fast lane when Eric Ray Kunkel, 48, of Rosemont, Calif., driving a blue Acura attempted to pass her on the left, using the highway’s shoulder in the center median, troopers said.

Kunkel lost control of his Acura when he tried to get back on the freeway after passing Saldana. His car struck Saldana’s Acura and a 2004 Jeep Cherokee traveling in the right-hand lane, troopers said.

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All three cars skidded off the freeway on the right shoulder.

Seriously injured in the crash, Kunkel was taken by a Mercy Flights helicopter to Providence Medford Medical Center, where he remained in intensive care late Wednesday.

Kunkel’s 11-year-old son was a passenger in his car and was treated at the Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford for minor injuries and released.

Saldana and her passenger, Michael Anderson, 27, of Talent, were taken by ambulance to Ashland Community Hospital. They were treated for minor injuries and released.

The occupants of the Jeep Cherokee, Gary Corvey, 53, and Carla Corvey, 48, both of Stockton, Calif., were taken to Ashland Community Hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries and released.

OSP Lt. Tanya Henderson, who arrived on the scene shortly after the crash, said that everyone involved is lucky to be alive.

"It looked really bad. Luckily, we only have one still in the hospital," she said. "Thank God they were all wearing their seat belts. I think that’s what saved them."

The crash briefly shut down both directions of traffic as the Mercy Flights helicopter landed on the freeway to fly Kunkel to the hospital.

Reach reporting intern Chris Conrad at 776-4471, or e-mail cconrad@mailtribune.com.