A man was transported to an area hospital following a two-vehicle crash in the steady rain on Route 3 northbound at Wedgewood Lane in Columbia shortly after 6 p.m. Friday.

Columbia police, fire and EMS personnel responded to the crash, which involved a Ford Taurus and a full-size Chevy van. The Taurus left the roadway to the right following the collision, ending up in a water-filled ditch several feet off Route 3.

Traffic was diverted away from northbound Route 3 for about 45 minutes as emergency officials worked the crash scene.

The accident report states that a 1999 Ford Taurus driven by Duncan J. Kremmel, 18, of Columbia, pulled out onto Route 3 from Wedgewood Drive, into the path of a northbound 1993 Chevy van driven by Justin C. Mathis, 34, of Dupo. 

Columbia firemen used extrication tools to cut the roof off of the Taurus and safely remove Kremmel, who was transported by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center. Mathis and two passengers in his van declined medical transport on scene.

Kremmel was cited for disobeying a stop sign.