A Santa Maria man was killed and a woman was critically injured when a vehicle crashed over the side of Highway 101 north of Buellton Monday afternoon.

The vehicle crashed about 75 feet over the side of the highway in the Woodchopper Hill area, between Buellton and Los Alamos, at 12:34 p.m., Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said.

Emergency responders found two people in the vehicle, including a male who was pronounced deceased at the scene and a female who had major injuries, Safechuck said.

A Calstar helicopter transported the injured patient to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, he said.

California Highway Patrol officers, sheriff’s deputies and American Medical Response ambulances also responded to the scene.

On Monday night, the CHP identified the man killed in the crash as Doug Palmer, 74, of Santa Maria.

He was a passenger in an Audi driven by Kathleen Palmer, 76, of Santa Maria, CHP Sgt. Charmaine Farjardo said.

“For unknown reasons, the vehicle traveled off the east roadway edge, down the dirt embankment, overturning and coming to rest at the bottom of the embankment,” Fajardo said.

CHP Officer Joel Asmussen was investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Anyone with information regarding the crash can contact the CHP in Buellton by calling 805.691.6160.