One woman is in critical condition and another was seriously injured following a head-on collision that occurred on SR309 in South Tamaqua just after 7 a.m. today.

Smoke could be seen billowing from both vehicles while firefighters and rescue personnel used hydraulic equipment to tear the doors off both cars, which were located on the southbound lane of SR309, across from the St. Francis Animal Hospital.Passers-by and fire police alternated traffic, which was backed up in both directions, during the response.A helicopter also landed in the area to transport the critically-injured woman, who was unconscious during the response, to the hospital.Responding were firefighters, paramedics, police and fire police from Tamaqua and West Penn.About 20 minutes into the response, emergency personnel on scene were also called to a structure fire about two miles away at the Clamtown Tavern and Restaurant along SR443 in Clamtown.No further information was available as of press time.