Monroe, WA : 9 people injured in 5-car Snohomish County crash on State Route 2 on Monday evening, June 2, 2014

A violent Monday evening car crash on State Route 2 in Snohomish County injured nine people, including four children.

Washington State Patrol troopers say five cars were involved in the crash, which happened at about 6:20 p.m. on SR-2 in between Sultan and Monroe.

Troopers say one of the vehicles was stopped to make a left turn when another came up from behind, crashing into it and causing a chain reaction.

Four children and two adults were critically injured and airlifted to local hospitals, troopers said.

"First thing when I hear kids are involved, immediately your heart goes out to the kids," said trooper Keith Leary.

Valerie Ballard was driving one of the five vehicles involved in the crash, but she was not injured.

"I feel so fortunate that God spared me," she said. "I hope no one dies. It would be a tremendous and wonderful thing."

Ballard has lived along the highway her entire life and said she's seen too many car crashes. She said the state should widen the road to four lanes to help avoid similar accidents.

"It needs to be fixed and it needs to be fixed now," she said. "Not yesterday, not 20 or 30 years from now, it needs to be fixed now."

The road was closed for hours as troopers cleared the scene.

Source :
Five-car crash near Monroe sends nine to hospital