One hurt in three-vehicle crash on Rice Lake Road

One person was injured and a car left torn in half when three vehicles collided on Monday afternoon in Rice Lake Township.

The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office reported that Joseph Harting, 62, of Wrenshall was driving his 2000 Honda Civic northbound on Rice Lake Road at Ridgeview Road - near the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District Materials Recovery Center - at 12:47 p.m. when his vehicle was rear-ended by a 2014 Toyota Sienna van driven by Wendi Valure, 40, of Duluth.

Harting's vehicle went into the southbound lane where it was struck by a 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette driven by Andrew Collins, 18, of Aurora. Harting's vehicle was torn in half from the force of the collision.

Harting, who was ejected from his vehicle, was taken to St. Luke's hospital with what the Sheriff's Office said were non life-threatening injuries.

The accident is under investigation, the Sheriff's Office reported.

1/2: Emergency personel work at the scene of Monday's crash on Rice Lake Road just north of Duluth. Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com

2/2: With a wheel sitting in the foreground, two firefighters work near the rear end of a car that was ripped apart in a crash on Rice Lake Road at the intersection with Ridgeview Road on Monday afternoon. Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com