An intersection just west of Coupeville on Highway 20 that is becoming notorious for auto accidents became the site of another two-car collision Monday.

The wreck occurred at about 7:20 a.m. at the intersection of Ebey Road. It resulted in three people being sent to the hospital, though no serious injuries were reported. This was the third major accident at the location in as many months.

According to Washington State Patrol Trooper Josh Lancaster, Oak Harbor resident Michele Bishai, 50, was northbound on Ebey Road in a 2000 Subaru Outback pulling a small trailer when she failed to stop at the intersection’s stop sign.

Lancaster said Bishai reported being distracted by her two children, who were riding in the back seat, and couldn’t stop in time. The vehicle made it through the southbound lane of Highway 20 unscathed but was T-boned by a 2009 Toyota Tacoma traveling in the northbound lane.

It all happened so fast that the driver of the truck, Coupeville resident Matthew Lachnit, couldn’t stop or avoid the collision, Lancaster said. He estimated that Lachnit was traveling close to the speed limit at the time of impact.

“He was probably going 50 mph when he hit her,” Lancaster said.

Lachnit was not injured in the collision but Bishai and the two children were transported to Whidbey General Hospital. However, it appears it was for largely precautionary measures. Lancaster visited them at the emergency room and said the two children appeared unharmed while Bishai suffered only bumps and bruises.

But it could have been a lot worse, he said.

The majority of the impact centered on the front passenger-side door of the station wagon. The result was a massive intrusion into the passenger-seat area of glass and pieces of jagged metal and plastic. Lancaster said it was lucky no one had been sitting there.

“It was good the kids were sitting in the back seat because it saved them,” the trooper said.

Both were wearing seat belts.

According to Lancaster, there were several contributing factors in the crash, including a wet roadway, but the accident was largely the result of not paying attention. He urged all drivers to remember that it’s their responsibility to tune out distractions and adjust their speed to meet weather conditions.

“If I can get one thing out to people on the roadway it is to pay attention,” Lancaster said.

Two other major car accidents have occurred at the same intersection over the past three months. A three-car wreck occurred in July and another similar crash happened in August. Both resulted in people being hospitalized, some with serious injury.

The intersection has been the scene of a handful of accidents over the years and Coupeville has made many unsuccessful attempts to lower the speed limit on that section of Highway 20. However, the decision is up to the state Department of Transportation and it was only after the collision in August that agency officials finally agreed.

Sometime in October, the speed limit will change from its current 55 mph posted limit to 45 mph.