Three females and two males were taken to the Ballarat Base Hospital with minor injuries yesterday.

Police said a 55-year-old woman’s car, which was also carrying her 16-year-old son, was travelling west along Elsworth Street when it crashed into another vehicle travelling north on Brittain Street about 5.30pm.

The two cars then collided into a third vehicle which was waiting to enter the intersection from the west side of Elsworth Street.

The force of the crash flattened a give way sign, and left all three cars on the west side of the crossing.

Two vehicles were written off while the third suffered major damage.

Leading Senior Constable A.J. Taylor said the offending driver was new to Ballarat and had been issued with an infringement notice for failing to give way.

“Don’t be complacent, if you are new to the area, be more aware of your surroundings and take appropriate cautions,” he said, before denying that the intersection had contributed significantly to the crash.

“It shouldn’t make a difference. A sign is a sign and an intersection is an intersection,” he said.

Sabine Armatas, whose house backs onto the trouble spot, said she feared that someone would crash into her house.

“I have my living room there and I’m always worried a truck might come through it. I’m honestly scared,” she said.

Ms Armatas estimated there had been at least six crashes at the intersection in the past six months.

“They have hit my neighbours’ fence a couple of times, they hit a tree once. People have to realise it’s a dangerous intersection,” she said.

“The should make the 60km/h zone 40km/h and have signs up that it’s a black spot area.”

Mt Clear resident James Ryan, who witnessed the aftermath of the crash, said speed humps should be put in along Elsworth Street.

“It’s a very dangerous intersection. The Elsworth Street road makes you feel like it’s the main road so a lot of cars go straight through instead of paying attention to the give way sign,” he said.