COLLISION KILLS 10.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

A fiery head-on collision between a pickup truck and a van on a narrow, winding Highway 1 killed at least 10 people Tuesday, authorities said.

There were conflicting reports on the number of deaths.

The San Luis Obispo office of the California Highway Patrol reported 10 people killed and two injured. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department reported 11 people killed and four survivors, all of whom were burned.

Authorities said the accident occurred at 9:50 p.m. along a section of the highway 10 miles south of Lompoc.

By the time firefighters arrived, the vehicles were engulfed in flames.

Emergency personnel pulled at least one person, believed to be the driver, out of the van, authorities said.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department officials said most of those who were killed were in the older-model van that was involved in the wreck.

Two victims were taken to Goleta Valley Hospital and two others went to Lompoc District Hospital. Emergency personnel at both hospitals were too busy to provide information about the victims' conditions late Tuesday.

The crash occurred on the scenic coastal Highway 1 near the San Julian Ranch, about 10 miles south of Lompoc.

Heavy construction, concrete barriers and narrow roads are near the site of the crash.

Highway 1 between highways 101 and 246 was expected to remain closed for several hours.

Lompoc is about 36 miles northwest of Santa Barbara.