Three people were injured Friday afternoon after a head-on crash involving two vehicles on Highway 166 northeast of Santa Maria. 

Just before 2 p.m., emergency personnel from multiple agencies were dispatched to the crash involving a minivan and an SUV on Highway 166 near Cottonwood Canyon Road.

One person was trapped and required extrication from one of the wrecked vehicles, according to emergency dispatch reports. 

Two people were critically injured in the crash, and a third person reportedly had moderate injuries.

Responding agencies included the Santa Barbara County and Los Padres National Forest fire departments plus the California Highway Patrol and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

An ambulance from American Medical Response plus helicopters from CalStar and the county’s Air Support Unit also responded to the scene to transport the two females and one male to Marian Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Both highway lanes were blocked after the crash, but the roadway connecting the coast and the San Joaquin Valley reopened by 3:30 p.m., according to emergency dispatch reports.

CHP dispatchers were told the driver of a minivan was crossing over double yellow lines while trying to pass multiple other vehicles before the collision, according to emergency dispatch reports, but that could not be confirmed.

The CHP is investigating the cause of the highway collision.

Additional details were not immediately available.

Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story.