SCHERERVILLE | An accident at the intersection of U.S. 30 and 41 early Wednesday morning blocked traffic on northbound U.S. 41 for three hours and sent three people to the hospital.

Witnesses told police that Cecilia Valencia, 22, of Gary, was driving a 1998 Ford Explorer north on U.S. 41 at 3:45 a.m. when she ran a red light at the intersection of U.S. 30. At the same time, a 62-year-old Merrillville man was heading east through the intersection in a 2004 Chevy Impala, Schererville Officer Jennifer Zukley said.

The Impala hit the driver's side door of the Explorer, causing the Explorer to lose control. It hit a curb and flipped, landing several hundred feet from the impact, blocking the right turn lane and right straight lane, Zukley said.

St. John and Lake Hills Fire Department assisted Schererville on the scene.

Three of the four people in the accident were transported to the hospital.

The driver of the Impala was treated and released, Zukley said.

Valencia's twin sister, who was in the passenger seat, was transported to the hospital. The back seat passenger was injured but refused treatment, Zukley said.

Based on the evidence, it appears that passengers in all vehicles were wearing their seat belts, she said.

All lanes were reopened on northbound U.S. 41 by 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Valencia was cited for disobeying an automatic signal. Her case has been referred to the Lake County prosecutor's office for an operating while intoxicated charge, Schererville Cmdr. Randy Reno said.

Her blood-alcohol concentration was 0.15, Zukley said. In Indiana, a person is considered intoxicated with a BAC of 0.08.