base runner passing preceding runner

Question
is it an immediate dead ball when a runner passes the preceding runner? this was an odd play. in a recent game, on a batted ball with one out, a runner on second passed the runner who was on third. the 2B runner made it back to 3B. the original 3B runner scored. after the play ended, the original runner from 2B was called out, the runner on 3B did score and the run counted. but the batter advanced to 2B in all the chaos and was allowed to stay there. I hope this was not too confusing.

Answer
Neil,

The ball is alive and in play.  

In your situation the runner from 2nd is out, the runner from 3rd scores and the batter-runner should be at 2nd base at the end of the play.  The out for passing a preceding runner is immediate.

I hope this has helped.

-Martin Hoover