Scene of a head-on collision in Pala.
A head-on collision on state Route 76 at Couser Canyon Road in the Pala area occurred Monday afternoon. Photo via Twitter @CalFireSanDiego.

A head-on collision on state Route 76 in the unincorporated rural community of Pala left three people with minor injuries Monday and blocked traffic lanes in the area for about 45 minutes.

The collision occurred shortly before 4 p.m., when the driver of a westbound Volkswagen Tiguan came upon slow-moving traffic near Couser Canyon Road and swerved to his left to avoid crashing into it, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Entering an eastbound lane, the car collided with an oncoming Chrysler 300, said CHP public affairs Officer Mark Latulippe.

Medics took the driver of the Volkswagen, a 38-year-old Oceanside resident, to Palomar Medical Center along with the other motorist, a 69-year-old Van Nuys man, and that driver’s 85-year-old female passenger.

All three had various complaints of pain, Latulippe said.

The wreck left traffic lanes blocked in the area into the late afternoon.

— City News Service