A Honda Accord went for a wild ride down the centre median on Bowen Road before colliding with oncoming traffic Monday.
The accident happened shortly before 1:30 p.m.
Witnesses said the woman driving the car pulled out of Beban Park at Leam Road and crossed the intersection into the southbound lanes of Bowen Road.
Drivers then saw the car swerve onto the raised centre median and continue down the median for about 150 metres before it veered back into the southbound lanes.
The car swerved back onto the median at the crosswalk in front of Beban Park Complex, drove through a crosswalk warning sign and down the median for another 100 metres or so before careening back into Bowen Road’s southbound lanes again.
The car then rear-ended a Honda SUV as it bounced up on the median a third time, crossed into the northbound lanes and collided head-on with a Pontiac Vibe.
The woman driving the Accord was taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital with unknown injuries.
A man and woman in the Pontiac were treated by paramedics at the scene and a woman driving the Honda SUV appeared to be uninjured.
North- and southbound Bowen Road traffic was snarled for at least 30 minutes while emergency crews dealt with the victims and wreckage.
Nanaimo RCMP are investigating the circumstances leading to the crash and had no word on whether any charges are pending.
Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said a medical condition might have caused the woman to lose control of her vehicle.