By Giana Magnoli, Noozhawk Editor
Seven people were injured in a four-vehicle collision south of Buellton on the Nojoqui Grade Tuesday morning, with one vehicle reportedly involved in a law enforcement pursuit on southbound Highway 101, according to authorities.
As of 8:07 a.m., patients were being transported to Goleta Valley, Santa Ynez and Santa Barbara Cottage Hospitals and both lanes of southbound Highway 101 were blocked at Nojoqui Grade.
Caltrans advised drivers to use Highway 246 and Highway 154 as a detour.
The collision was reported at 7:13 a.m. on the south side of the grade, near Highway 1, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
County Fire spokesman Mike Eliason said the crash was a result of a law enforcement pursuit from Santa Maria, of possible carjacking suspects, but that could not immediately be confirmed.
Four vehicles were involved in the crash, including a California Highway Patrol unit, and seven people were injured, Eliason said.
There were six minor injuries and one moderate injury, including two infants with minor injuries. Eliason did not know whether the CHP officer was injured in the crash.
A California Highway Patrol vehicle was involved in the Tuesday morning collision. (Santa Barbara County Fire Department photo)
The vehicle involved in the law enforcement pursuit crashed into the center divider, said Ray Holguin Navarro, a spokesman for the Santa Barbara Office of Emergency Services.
No further details were available.
Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story.
— Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com.
