Two critically injured drivers were airlifted to the hospital in Santa Barbara Wednesday night after a head-on collision near Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
The victims were trapped in the wreckage and required major extrication after the crash on Highway 154 west of Foxen Canyon Road, said fire Capt. Daniel Bertucelli.
At approximately 6:30 p.m., personnel from the county Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol and American Medical Response were dispatched to the two-vehicle crash.
A 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by David Romero, 27, of was westbound on Highway 154 “at a suspected high rate of speed” when it drifted into the opposing lane, according to the CHP.
The Grand Prix slammed into a 2019 Honda Civic driven by Joseph S. Person, 36, of Santa Barbara, the CHP said.
Both vehicles sustained major damage, with one reportedly ending up in a ditch.
Both Romero and Person suffered major injuries, Bertucelli said, but details on their conditions were not available.
A CalStar medical helicopter and a Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit helicopter were dispatched to transport the patients to Santa Barbara Cottae Hospital, with both aircraft landing on the roadway.
The incident blocked both lanes of Highway 154 in the area for more than an hour Wednesday night.
Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies also responded to the scene to assist.
The circumstances of the collision were being investigated by the CHP, which said it was unknown if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.
Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact the CHP’s Buellton office at 805.688.5551.
— 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.