A tree fell across Highway 101 lanes early Wednesday morning, causing multiple injuries for people in vehicles that crashed into it, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The large eucalyptus tree fell across both southbound lanes near El Capitan Canyon Road around 5 a.m., CHP Officer Jon Gutierrez said.

Four vehicles collided with the downed tree and seven people had minor injuries, County Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said.

Four people in the primary vehicle that had a tree fall on it were transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital by American Medical Response ambulances, Safechuck added.

The highway was closed for about half an hour before the tree was cut and removed from the lanes, Gutierrez said.

Several other early-morning collisions were reported on Highway 101 in southern Santa Barbara County.

One vehicle crashed off the roadway into the creek on Highway 101 just north of the Gaviota Tunnel at 1:51 a.m., Safechuck said.

Firefighters used rope systems to rescue two people who had moderate injuries from the crash, he said. Both of them were transported to the hospital by ambulance.

“Firefighters continue to work with chainsaws to create a path for tow truck/vehicle removal,” Safechuck said.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a vehicle hit and killed a horse in the roadway west of Santa Maria at 6:30 a.m., in the area of Black Road and Point Sal Road.

The driver was transported to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria with major injuries, the CHP reported.

The driver’s name and details on their condition were not available.

At 7:05 a.m., a vehicle crashed into the Highway 101 center divider on the Nojoqui Grade near Pork Palace. The driver reportedly had minor injuries, according to the CHP.

Safechuck noted Wednesday morning that the fire department had responded to multiple vehicle crashes overnight between Gaviota and Los Alamos.

“The new year is in reach, let’s make it there by driving at safe speeds and staying focused,” he wrote in a Twitter post.