The Lompoc area had two major accidents this week that injured seven people, including three seriously, and resulted in the deaths of two young girls.

The first crash occurred Wednesday at 3:51 p.m. when a California Highway Patrol officer attempted to pull over the driver of a speeding Infiniti sedan in the area of ​​Harris Grade and Rucker roads near the village of Vandenberg, according to the CHP. A high-speed chase on the north side of the Harris Grade ended when the driver failed to negotiate a curve and crashed into an oak tree with enough force to snap the car in half.

A CHP officer who arrived at the scene found two young girls, a 3-year-old and a 7-month-old girl, who had died in the crash. The driver, Cuyama resident Brian Hernandez-Cervantes, 23, was moderately injured and arrested on suspicion of murder, child endangerment, driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving causing injury. He was booked into the Santa Barbara County Main Jail on $2,000,000 bail.

After the Infiniti collided with the tree, the rear semi struck a southbound Toyota Equinox, but did not injure the driver.

Although the authorities did not make public the names of the girls killed in the accident, a GoFundMe page was set up on behalf of the victims’ family to help cover funeral expenses. As of Friday, it has raised $21,488 of its $15,000 goal.

The next day, Nov. 21, a multi-vehicle crash involving four cars on Highway 1 sent six people to the hospital, three in critical condition, and closed the northbound lanes.

The crash happened around 4:45 p.m. near Santa Lucia Canyon Road, according to the CHP.

Of the six injured in the wreck, three suffered major injuries, one suffered moderate injuries and two suffered minor injuries, said Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck, who noted that one victim had to be extricated from the – a vehicle. Four patients were transported by ambulance to Marian Hospital Emergency Room in Santa Maria, while a fifth was taken to Lompoc Valley Medical Center. The sixth victim had to be flown by CalStar helicopter to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, according to Safechuck.

The identities and current conditions of the victims have not been released.

The CHP is investigating both collisions and asks anyone with additional information to call the Buellton Area CHP office at (805) 691-6160.