Highway 104 near Debert was backed up for hours Monday. (Courtesy of Catherine Bickie)

Three people have serious injuries after one of two separate vehicle crashes on Highway 104 near Exit 12.

A white Chevrolet van travelling westbound lost control, and flipped in to the ditch at about 12:30 p.m. Monday.

The three people in the van, one man and two women all aged 26, have been transported to Colchester Hospital with serious injuries.

All three are from Newfoundland, according to RCMP.

Moments later in the eastbound lane of Highway 104, there was a rear-end collision between a Ford Escape and a Ford Ranger.

There were no injuries in the second collision.

Traffic was re-routed for several hours at Debert but the highway is now clear and traffic is moving.