Two people critically injured, another moderately injured after head-on traffic collision on Highway 154

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Two people were critically injured and another was moderately injured after a head-on traffic collision on Highway 154 near Lake Cachuma on Monday afternoon, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

One of the critically-injured individuals was transported by helicopter to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, and the other two were transported on-ground by ambulances, according to Capt. Daniel Bertucelli.

No extrication was required, he added.

The call came in just before 1:50 p.m., and the collision blocked all lanes of the highway by 2:15 p.m., causing large traffic back-ups, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The highway lanes re-opened around 3 p.m., according to the CHP.

The cause of the crash was still under investigation.