Hwy. 101 crash kills 2 south of Buellton when car hydroplanes into oncoming traffic

Two people were killed and another was critically injured Thursday afternoon in a 2-vehicle accident on Highway 101 north of Gaviota.

The crash occurred at about 12:20 p.m. in the northbound lanes at the bottom of the Nojoqui Grade, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A Honda Element was southbound coming down the grade when it began to hydroplane on water on the roadway and crossed over into the northbound lanes, where it struck a Jeep Cherokee, according to Mike Eliason, a spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The driver of the Element, a woman believed to be in her 50s, was killed, as was a male passenger in the Cherokee, Eliason said.

Their names were not released pending notification of relatives.

The female driver of the Cherokee suffered major injuries, Eliason said, and was airlifted by Calstar helicopter to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Her name and details on her condition were not available.

A small dog also died in the crash, Eliason said. Traffic was reported stopped in both directions for a time after the collision, but at least one lane was later reopened. Personnel from the Santa Barbara County Coroner’s Bureau were dispatched to the scene.