Ten people - including a 3-year-old child and a 5-year-old - were injured in a two-car crash at 4:10 p.m. Thursday, at the intersection of U.S. 52 and Kendall Avenue.

Shurbonn Byrd, 24, of Portsmouth, was driving east in a Chevrolet Corsica, and turned left to go on to Kendall Avenue, said Lt. Jerry Leach of Portsmouth Police Department.

A 1997 Ford Escort westbound on U.S. 52, and driven by Jeremiah Hammons, 24, of Portsmouth, plowed into Byrd's car on the passenger side.

Four passengers in Byrd's car were Devon Phillips, 3, of Portsmouth; Erika Gammon, 52, of Portsmouth; Christa McCown, 33, of West Portsmouth; and Nicole Kern, 31, also of West Portsmouth.

Phillips and McCown were being treated at Southern Ohio Medical Center. Kern was taken by helicopter to St. Mary's Hospital in Huntington, W.Va. Gammon, who had to be freed from the car with hydraulic tools by a rescue crew with Portsmouth Fire Department, was flown to Grant Hospital in Columbus.

Byrd, who apparently did not require hospitalization, was cited for failure to yield the right of way and driving under suspension.

"She tried to make a turn into rush-hour traffic. It's a wonder only one car hit her," Leach said.

Byrd said she thought she had a green arrow.

In the Ford Escort, Hammons - the driver - and all four of his passengers are from Portsmouth.

His passengers were Christina Hammons, 31; Dalton Hammons, 5; Donald Patrick, 42; and Tina Fyffe, 36.

Leach said he was not certain at press time how the Hammonses were related.

All five were being treated in the emergency room at SOMC.

Leach said Patrick appeared to be the most severely injured.

"When I was at the hospital there was talk of flying him out, but it hadn't been decided," the lieutenant said.

There were no condition reports on any of the injured available at press time from any of the three hospitals.

G. SAM PIATT can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.