A multivehicle crash Sunday afternoon on state Route 17 in Jefferson. Joshua Pomelow photo

JEFFERSON — Three people were injured Sunday evening in a multivehicle crash on state Route 17 in Jefferson, officials said.

The three had to be taken to hospitals after two vehicles swerved off the road just before 4:45 p.m., when a BMW sedan and a Toyota pickup truck attempted to pass a minivan.

Neither driver was aware a Nissan pickup truck was ahead of the minivan until they had entered the passing lane, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

Before swerving off the road, the BMW slammed into the back of the Nissan pickup truck, pushing the Nissan into another car, Deputy Nathan Yeaton said Monday.

Excessive speed was likely a factor in the crash, Yeaton said.

“The BMW driver went off the road, hit a telephone pole and went into a ditch,” Yeaton said. “The red Toyota (truck) behind the Beemer (BMW) tried to get past them to avoid the collision, and the Nissan truck ended up hitting the car in front of him before they both split apart.”

Four vehicles were involved in the crash and three people were injured, including the BMW’s driver and passenger, and a passenger in the Nissan pickup truck, Yeaton said.

The passenger in the BMW was taken by a LifeFlight of Maine helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland, according to Lt. Brendan Kane of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, while the other victims were taken by ambulance to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta.

All victims, except the driver of the BMW, were wearing seat belts, Kane said.

Traffic along Route 17 was restricted to one lane until about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Kane said.

Jefferson Fire & Rescue responded to the crash, along with ambulances from Winslow, Waldoboro and Central Lincoln County EMS services.