At least one person was killed and multiple people were injured when a wrong-way driver and a Chumash Casino bus collided head-on and sparked a fire early Friday on Highway 101 north of Los Alamos.

At approximately 3:15 a.m., Santa Barbara County Fire Department personnel, California Highway Patrol and American Medical Response responded to the crash on southbound Highway 101 south of Palmer Road. 

Fire Capt. Mike Gray said a passenger vehicle traveling northbound in the southbound lanes had been involved in a head-on collision with a bus.

The vehicle became “fully engulfed in fire upon impact,” Gray said, adding the flames spread to the bus and adjacent brush in the center divider.

“All passengers exited the bus and were positively accounted for before fire spread to the bus,” Gray said.

The wrong-way vehicle had an unknown number of occupants, Gray added. 

Fourteen people on the bus sustained minor injuries and were transported by ground ambulances to local hospitals, Gray said.

The Chumash Casino bus had employees on it at the time of the collision.

“Most importantly, we are thankful that all 14 of our team members were able to safely evacuate the bus, be accounted for following the crash and avoid any further harm,” said Kenneth Kahn, tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

“We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the first responders, law enforcement personnel, and medical teams for their swift and professional response. As we continue to support our team members and their families, we remain grateful for the outpouring of concern, compassion, and support from our community.”

CHP officers from the Santa Maria area were investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.

“Expect significant delays,” the CHP said following the collision.

Southbound lanes of Highway 101 were closed for a time after the crash, while the northbound Highway 101 was reduced to one lane. 

The roadway was cleared and open to vehicles as of 1 p.m., according to the CHP.