The incident occurred about 4.20pm at the corner of Hindmarsh Drive and Tyagarah Street, across the road from Canberra Hospital.

Police and ambulance crews attended the scene and four male patients, all under 30 years old, were taken to Canberra Hospital.

A spokesperson for the Emergency Services Agency said one man had suffered head injuries while three had minor injuries. All are in a stable condition.

Police said motorists should avoid Hindmarsh Drive if possible after two accidents reduced traffic in the area to a crawl.

A second three-car collision occured about two kilometres away just minutes earlier, about 4.15pm and one 81-year-old was taken to hospital with chest pain.

The crash took place at the intersection of Ainsworth Street and Athllon Drive.

Ten minutes later there was a third crash in Belconnen involving two vehicles at the corner of Coulter Drive and Belconnen Way.

Traffic heading both directions on Belconnen Way was affected by the collision and police were advising motorists to avoid the area at 4.50pm.

An Emergency Services Agency spokesperson said the jaws of life were being used by firefighters to rescue one person from a car.