A three-car crash on the New York State Thruway in Nanuet brought traffic to a screeching halt Friday.

State police believe a Toyota traveling from the Palisades Parkway merged onto the Thruway when it lost control and slid across the northbound lanes of traffic sideways. Police said a minivan couldn?t avoid slamming into the Toyota. The minivan was then hit by another vehicle, police said.

Firefighters used the Jaws-of-Life to free the driver of the Toyota. The driver of the third car also was trapped in her vehicle and had to be rescued. Those two women were taken to the hospital, but their injuries are not life-threatening, police said.

Police shut down three lanes on the Thruway near the Route 304 overpass to investigate the cause of the crash. Officials say a combination of slick roads and speed could be to blame.