Staff Report

A vehicle accident on Highway 154 sparked a vegetation fire and shut down westbound traffic. According to California Highway Patrol officials three people were killed in a three-vehicle accident around 4:45 p.m. on Friday afternoon. A medical helicopter landed at the scene to transport a male victim with life-threatening injuries to the hospital. 

People are being rerouted from Foothill Road on the Santa Barbara side to take Highway 101 northbound, and traffic is being diverted at Highway 1246 on the Santa Ynez size, according to California Highway Patrol. 

The accident was reported around 4:45 p.m. of a SUV type vehicle versus a Chevrolet Camero which caught on fire and spread to the nearby vegetation. There is also a fatality from the accident.

Only residents are allowed through the road closures that live east of Cold Springs Bridge on the Santa Ynez side, according to CHP traffic. 

Check back for updates.