Motorcyclist dead after head-on collision, sparking fire in Santa Maria

SANTA MARIA, Calif. — A motorcyclist is dead after a fatal head-on collision, in a series of events, sparking a vegetation fire Saturday evening in Santa Maria.

According to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the incident happened at approximately 6:46 p.m. on the 9100 block of Highway 166 near Chimineas Ranch road.

The head-on collision involved a vehicle and a motorcycle on HWY 166 going westbound towards Santa Maria from New Cuyama.

SBC Fire say the motorcyclist died at the scene. The name of the person is being withheld pending notification of relatives.

According to SBC Fire, one person was trapped in the vehicle.

The county fire department say, a Calstar medical helicopter responded to the incident and transported the driver to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. The driver sustained critical injuries from the crash.

According to SBC Fire dispatch, the motorcycle caught on fire off the roadway of HWY 166, leading to flames spreading to vegetation on the hillside.

SBC Fire say the brush fire burned 2 to 3 acres and was put out at approximately 7:36 p.m. A county Air Support Unit helicopter assisted crews with the fire.

The California Highway Patrol were also at the scene of the collision. CHP assisted emergency personnel by closing HWY 166.

Further investigation into the crash is now underway.