A 33-year-old man was in serious condition and two other people were in stable condition and taken to hospitals Monday after a eight-vehicle accident on the Kailua-bound lane in the Tetsuo Harano Tunnel of the H-3 freeway that also resulted in a van fire, authorities said.

The accident happened during rush hour at about 4:52 p.m. Monday.

Honolulu Fire Capt. Terry Seelig said the fire in the van spread from gas from acetylene and oxygen tanks; but the tanks didn’t explode. The fire did not hurt anyone, he said.

Two motorists refused transportation to the hospital, according to an Emergency Medical Services report.

The H-3 freeway at the Harano Tunnel was closed until about 9:30 p.m. in the Kaneohe-bound direction after the accident and fire that sent black smoke billowing out of the tunnel, police said.

The town-bound lanes were contra-flowed until the tunnel was cleared of vehicles and reopened.