CHICO — A woman suffered an injury that required a trip to the hospital as a result of a two-car crash on Highway 99, just south of the intersection with Garner Lane on Wednesday.

California Highway Patrol dispatchers received a call about a crash at about 3:05 p.m. CHP officer Frank Valdepena said the woman, driving a Scion xB sport utility vehicle, rear-ended a Plymouth 200 near the point at which the freeway ends and the road tapers to one lane in each direction.

The Scion tumbled into a ditch on the east side of the roadway, while the Plymouth came to rest in the center divider after sustaining considerable damage. The driver of that car did not appear to be injured, and was standing near his vehicle and communicating with someone on a mobile phone.

An officer from the CHP was speaking to him and appeared to be taking notes.

The Scion knocked down a speed limit sign on its way into the ditch. Paramedics and other emergency personnel strapped the woman — who complained of leg pain — to a gurney and rolled it to an ambulance for transportation to Enloe Health. Another ambulance drove away from the scene but it was unclear whether it was carrying any injured persons.

Valdepena said there were two passengers in the Scion, ages 13 and 11, and he did not know whether they suffered any injuries.

Traffic on northbound 99, where the crash took place, was reduced to one lane due to the emergency response at the scene. Since it was the beginning of the afternoon rush hour, traffic was heavy but slow, and was backed up all the way to the Eaton Road overpass.

Valdepena said excessive speed and distracted driving were possible factors in the accident, but officers would not know for sure until they complete their investigation. Valdepena said alcohol did not appear to be a likely factor in the crash.