Twelve sent to area hospitals today after two vans wreck this morning

Van crash

Twelve people were sent to area hospitals this morning after two vans collided at the intersection of Hickory Valley and Standifer Gap roads, according to a Chattanooga Fire Department news release.

Police quoted witnesses as saying that the wreck at 8:15 a.m. occurred when a man driving a white van ran a red light and collided with a white passenger van operated by Serenity Adult Day Care.

Some of the victims were removed from the back of the passenger van while others were taken out the front after the windshield and part of the van were cut out.

Six ambulances took the passenger van driver and 11 passengers to Erlanger Medical Center, Erlanger East and Parkridge Medical Center where, according to the news release, their conditions are being assessed.

The cause of the wreck is still under investigation, the release said.