THREE people were hospitalised on Friday night following a traffic incident at a Pacific Highway black spot.

About 6pm, a car turning at the notorious Smiths Road intersection 500m south of Emerald Beach, collided with a vehicle believed to be turning north.

Two occupants in the vehicles were trapped for a short period until help arrived.

Police, Ambulance paramedics, Woolgoolga Fire and Rescue and Rural Fire Services teams rendered assistance.

Crews from nearby roadworks also lent a hand with traffic control duties until the site was cleared around one hour later.

The male and female occupants of the northbound Subaru were treated for a chest, arm, hip and neck injuries while the driver of the southbound Subaru is believed to have suffered a hand injury.

All were transported to Coffs Harbour Health Campus.

The Pacific Highway, heavy with homeward bound peak hour traffic was reduced to a crawl while police sorted out the wreckage and took statements.

The spot was the subject of a tragic fatal head-on last year where a child was killed and an elderly couple sustained critical injuries.