Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled the name of the injured driver. He is Alex Maier. An update of this story quoted a student as saying the injured teen was identified in a schoolwide announcement. According to San Luis Obispo High Principal Leslie O'Connor, the boy was not identified.

UPDATE 4:45 p.m.: News of the accident spread quickly through the San Luis Obispo High School community.

Independent study students Kayla Sansoucie, 15, and Markelle Burton, 16, were in a relative’s apartment before 9 p.m. Monday night when they heard what Burton described as “squealing, tires and a loud crash,” followed by a car horn blaring with no end. That’s when they drove to the scene to see emergency crews trying to pry open the door of a blue truck or SUV that appeared to have exited the freeway, crossed the center guard-rail and flipped. The girls did not know who was in the car, and did not want to watch the rescue, so they stayed in their own car until the ambulance left.

Sophomore Grady Ahern found out about the crash by 11 p.m. Monday night from a Facebook post that read, “Please pray for Alex Maier.” Ahern and Maier have played on the same AYSO soccer team.

“He’s one of the best athletes that I’ve known,” Ahern said of Maier. “He’s also just a nice person.”

San Luis Obispo High School freshman Julissa Gonzales said that by first period Tuesday morning, a schoolwide intercom announcement was made: The message was that a student had been in a serious accident, was in stable but critical condition, and needed their prayers.

UPDATE: Alex Maier, 17, of San Luis Obispo is in critical condition at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center's Intensive Care Unit after a Hwy. 101 crash Monday night. No further details were available.

Original story:Two cars collided in the southbound lane of Highway 101 at 8:30 p.m. Monday night, sending a man to the hospital with possible major injuries.

According to Highway Patrol reports, the accident occurred at the Santa Rosa off-ramp when a vehicle and a Ford F-150 collided. The truck first hit a highway sign and then landed on the guardrail. The other vehicle skidded onto the shoulder of the off-ramp and had minor damage.

Olive and Santa Rosa streets were closed for a period of time while investigators sought the cause of the accident.