A Calstar medical helicopter takes off with a critically injured patient.
A Calstar medical helicopter takes off with a critically injured patient Tuesday afternoon after a collision on Highway 101 south of Orcutt that sent five people to the hospital. (Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara Count Fire Department photo)

A two-vehicle crash on Highway 101 south of Orcutt left five people with serious injuries on Tuesday afternoon.

Shortly after noon, personnel from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol and American Medical Response were dispatched to the collision on northbound Highway 101 near Cat Canyon Road, fire Capt. Daniel Bertucelli said. 

Additionally, a Calstar medical helicopter responded to the scene, landing on Cat Canyon Road to pick up one patient. 

The T-bone crash reportedly happened when one vehicle struck the front side of the second car, Bertucelli said..

One patient had major injuries and was airlifted to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. 

Four others had minor to moderate injuries, according to Bertucelli, with two transported to Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital and two others taken to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria. 

CHP officers from the Santa Maria area will investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. 

— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.

Emergency personnel attend to the injured Tuesday afternoon after a collision on Highway 101.

Emergency personnel attend to the injured Tuesday afternoon after a collision on Highway 101 south of Orcutt that sent five people to the hospital. (Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara Count Fire Department photo)

Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com.