SOUTH CHINA -- Six people were taken to area hospitals Saturday morning following a head-on collision on Route 3 near Branch Mills Road.

China Fire and Rescue, Maine State Police and two LifeFlight of Maine helicopters responded to the accident, which happened near Tobey's store at about 10:30 a.m.

Trooper Robert Cejka said a family from Fayette was traveling east in a Saturn when their vehicle collided with a Dodge minivan rental car traveling west.

Troopers are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident.

Cejka said two elderly people were taken by medical helicopter to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, two others were taken by ambulance to the same hospital and two others with non-life threatening injuries were brought to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta.

He said he could not release the names of those involved, pending notification of family members. He said everyone was wearing a seat belt and that air bags deployed.

Traffic on Route 3 was diverted around the accident by way of Branch Mills Road for much of the day.