Three people were taken by Care Flight to Washoe Medical Center with broken bones and serious trauma after a collision at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday one mile north of Sand Harbor on Highway 28.
Four others were transported by ambulance.
Sgt. Pam Keller, of the Washoe County Sheriff's Department's Incline Village Substation, said a northbound Kia Sportage with three occupants crossed the median and struck a Toyota Sequoia headed south.
The Kia flipped into the air, ricocheted off a rock cliff, and landed back in its lane, after turning nearly 180 degrees in the air.
The Toyota careened off the side of the road and struck a Ford Explorer parked on the shoulder of Highway 28, officials said.
North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District paramedic crews arrived on the scene at 1:34 p.m. Nevada Highway Patrol arrived at approximately 2 p.m.
Three University of Nevada, Reno students heading for Hidden Beach - Cody Rapp, James Still, and Josh Schill - were a few cars behind the accident and helped pull the victims from the Kia.
"We actually had to open the (rear) hatch to get to (one passenger)," Rapp said.
By 3 p.m., southbound traffic was backed up almost to Country Club Drive in Incline Village.
According to Sgt. Ron Larson, of the Nevada Highway Patrol, all traffic cleared by 3:10 p.m.