A big-rig driver suffered major injuries Thursday afternoon in a collision on Highway 101 north of Buellton, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Emergency personnel were dispatched at about 2:45 p.m. to the crash scene on southbound Highway 101 south of Jonata Park Road, the CHP said.

A semi driven by a 63-year-old Port Hueneme man struck the rear of another big-rig, the CHP said, and then ran off the west side of the roadway.

The semi then caught fire, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, with the flames spreading to the brush.

The driver was able to escape the burning truck, and firefighters quickly doused the flames, which charred a 50-by-50-foot area of vegetation, according to fire Capt. Daniel Bertucelli.

The injured driver was taken by AMR ambulance to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria. His name and details on his condition were not available.

The second driver, Paul Michael Davis, 31, of Alta Loma, was not hurt, the CHP said.

One lane of Highway 101 was closed for a time after the crash.

The collision remained under investigation by the CHP, which said it was unknown whether alcohol or drugs were a factor.

— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.