An Issaquah driver caused a serious three-car collision on Friday, Sept. 2 in Federal Way that left three injured, including a child who was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson.

Around 5:30 p.m., the 51-year-old Issaquah man was driving his 2000 Buick Century southbound on I-5 just north of 320th Street when he failed to stop for traffic backed up at exit 143.

The driver crashed into a 2002 Subaru Impreza, causing it to collide with the 2006 Chevrolet Aveo in front of it.

A 6-year-old passenger in the back seat of the Subaru, who was the son of the driver, was airlifted to Harborview with facial injuries, Johnson said.

As of Tuesday, that the boy remained in ICU but was stable, according to Johnson.

The front seat passenger of the Subaru, a 24-year-old from Auburn, was also taken to Harborview. The driver, a 26-year-old Graham man, was not injured.

The Chevrolet driver, a 41-year-old from Fife, was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way.

According to Washington State Patrol, there were no drugs or alcohol involved in the crash.

“Most likely it was inattention or going too fast for the conditions,” Johnson said.

He explained that busy roads full of people going away for the Labor Day weekend, especially on a rainy day when people have not driven on wet roads for a while, can create prime conditions for accidents.

Johnson noticed the same spike in accidents on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 6, as people returned from Labor Day travels.

The Subaru and the Chevrolet were impounded, while the Buick was towed with damage.

The crash closed the left lane of the freeway for approximately two hours and 41 minutes.