tLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say the driver of a semitrailer that started an eight-vehicle crash in eastern Nebraska was distracted prior to the incident.

Lancaster County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jeff Bliemeister says 56-year-old Nathan Quigley, of Sioux City, has been cited for careless driving in connection to the Tuesday afternoon crash on U.S. 77.

Bliemeister says Quigley wasn’t paying attention and didn’t see that other drivers had stopped for a red light. The semitrailer hit the back of a vehicle, causing a chain of crashes.

Three people were sent to a hospital. Two were discharged Tuesday and one remained hospitalized Wednesday morning.