A 75-year-old Autryville man has been cited for driving left of center Wednesday afternoon and causing a three-car pileup along N.C. 24, about a mile east of Clinton that snarled traffic for about an hour.

Three people involved in the incident were taken to Sampson Regional Medical Center — all were reportedly treated and released with minor and non-life threatening injuries — as a result of the wreck.

According to reports from the N.C. Highway Patrol, Noah Lee Hall, 75, of 400 Spicy Lane, Autryville, was traveling east on N.C. 24 around 3:30 p.m. in his 1996 Ford.

Near the bridge, just east of Fox Lake, Hall traveled left of the centerline and continued east in the westbound lane.

A 2005 Nissan driven by Mary Malloy, 57, of 1757 Lakewood School Road, Salemburg, was traveling west when Hall came into the lane. Malloy tried to avoid Hall’s vehicle, but was still hit, the report indicated.

A third vehicle, a 2008 Mercury driven by Marshall Johnson, 60, of 838 Nathan Dudley Road, Clinton, was traveling behind Malloy, and was also hit by Hall.

Hall’s vehicle traveled 46 feet after the wreck and wound up on N.C. 24 facing north; Malloy’s Nissan, struck a guardrail, traveled 13 fet and came to rest in the eastbound lane; Johnson’s Mercury struck the bridge, traveled 11 feet and came to rest facing south on N.C. 24.

Investigators estimated that the rate of speed the cars were traveling at the time of impact was 45 mph.

All three cars were towed from the scene. Estimated damage to Hall’s vehicle was $6,000; Malloy’s Nissan was estimated at $4,000; and Johnson’s Mercury received $9,000 damage.

Hall was cited for driving left of center.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.