UPDATE (9:30 a.m.) - Three people were injured, one critically, in a crash on Southbound Highway 101 near Gaviota Wednesday morning.
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department says it happened shortly before 7:30 a.m. about one mile south of the Gaviota rest stop.
Fire officials say when crews arrived on scene, traffic was heavily backed up.
Five vehicles were reportedly involved. Two people declined medical treatment, two people suffered minor injuries and were hospitalized and one person with critical injuries was also hospitalized, fire officials said.
The southbound lanes of the highway were shut down for approximately 15 minutes but have since reopened; however, as of 9:15 a.m., traffic remained backed up in the area.
No word on the cause of the crash.
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ORIGINAL STORY: The California Highway Patrol is responding to a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 101 southbound north of the Mariposa Reina off-ramp near Gaviota.
According to CHP, the crash happened just before 7:30 a.m. and involved four to five vehicles. Officials say the number two lane is blocked and there isn't an estimated time of when it will reopen.
This is a developing story, check back here for details.
