A two-vehicle crash about 6:35 a.m. Tuesday at Route 8 and Route 228 west in Middlesex Township caused southbound traffic to back up for about three-quarters of a mile. One of the cars, a Chevrolet Malibu, pictured, nearly lost its driver's side front tire.

MIDDLESEX TWP — No one was injured Tuesday morning in a two-vehicle crash at a busy intersection that caused rush hour traffic to be tied up.

The crash occurred around 6:35 a.m. at Route 8 and Route 228 west in Middlesex Township.

“Southbound traffic was backed up all the way to Cooperstown,” said Middlesex Township police Sgt. Randy Davison. He guessed the logjam stretched for three-quarters of a mile.

Investigators blamed an improper lane change for the traffic headache.

Police said James Ronczka, 22, of Middlesex Township was headed for work in the southbound slow lane in his 2006 Chevrolet Malibu.

He moved into the fast lane and struck a 2009 Toyota Corolla driven by Makenna Krebs, 26, of Middlesex Township.

The collision damaged both cars and nearly ripped off the left front tire of Ronczka's Chevy. Both vehicles had to be towed.

Penn Township police and Middlesex and Richland Township volunteer firefighters assisted at the scene.

Both southbound lanes were closed following the crash. Davison said the center turning lane was used to keep traffic headed south moving — albeit slowly. Northbound traffic was not affected.

Davison said the traffic back-up lasted for about 30 minutes.