LEWISTON – A series of events during the early evening commute Friday clogged traffic along Main Street and surrounding areas.

About 5 p.m. a motorcycle, minivan, sedan and station wagon collided on Main Street near Strawberry Avenue. The bike rider escaped with minor injuries but traffic slowed to a stop on both ends of Main Street as police and emergency crews made their way to the scene.

Police said a station wagon driven by Christine Obie, 37, of Lewiston, plowed into the back of the Kawasaki motorcycle driven by Paul Shaw, 24, of Lewiston, while Shaw was stopped in traffic.

Also struck was a Buick driven by Marilyn S. Churchill, 58, of Minot, and a Pontiac minivan driven by Scott J. Pane, 36, of Lewiston.

Obie told police a problem with her brakes led to the collision. Shaw was taken to Central Maine Medical Center to be treated for pain, but police said his injuries were minor. Moments before the crash, Shaw had purchased a helmet from a nearby store, which police say may have spared him from more serious injury.

While police investigated and cleanup began, drivers were diverted to Strawberry Avenue to wend their way through the Tall Pines Apartment complex. But the axle of a car snapped at the end of Strawberry Avenue, leaving the driver stranded with his car blocking one lane of traffic.

The presence of the disabled car further slowed traffic along Main Street and Strawberry Avenue. Cars and trucks stuck in traffic were lined up to Central Maine Medical Center on Main Street, closer to the downtown, and beyond Marden’s in the opposite direction.

Many commuters sought escape along Pettingill Street, King Avenue and other roads, causing similar snarls along College Street and neighboring streets.

Meanwhile, about 5:20 p.m., another crash was reported at Main Street and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge, where traffic had already slowed to a halt.

Some police officers at the four-vehicle pile-up near Dunkin’ Donuts cleared that scene to make their way to the more recent crash. Police said one car had rear-ended another in that wreck. No serious injuries were reported.

With emergency vehicles going to both collisions, the traffic problems became more complicated and further slowed traffic on Veterans Bridge and on Russell Street. Police said it was an hour or more before traffic evened out.