Three people were injured, two critically, in a multi-vehicle crash just west of Santa Maria on Thursday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The collision occurred at about 1 p.m. on the 2600 block of Mahoney Road, near Black Road, the CHP said.

Two of the vehicles were involved in a head-on crash, while a third vehicle overturned off the roadway, according to Capt. Scott Safechuck of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

There were two women in one of the head-on vehicles, Safechuck said.

One, with major injuries, was airlifted by a county helicopter to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, while the other with minor injuries were taken by AMR ambulance to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria.

The male driver and sole occupant of the other head-on vehicle was taken by ground ambulance to Marian with major injuries, Safechuck said.

Heavy extrication was required to free the injured people from the wreckage of the vehicles.

The female driver of the vehicle that ended up off the roadway was taken to the hospital for evaluation, Safechuck said.

The names and details on the conditions of the injured were not available.

Black and Mahoney roads were shut down in the area of the collision, which was under investigation by the CHP.

Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story.