SUMMIT TWP — A darting deer is blamed for a head-on collision that left at least three people, including two children, injured Tuesday night, authorities said.

State police said the chain-reaction accident started shortly after 9 p.m. when a Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Timothy J. Wolfe, 55, of Petrolia struck a deer on Bonniebrook Road about one-quarter mile north of Cemetery Road in Summit Township.

After hitting the animal, Wolfe’s northbound pickup crossed into the opposing lane where it collided with another Ford F-150 driven by a 17-year-old Butler boy who was traveling south, investigators said.

Three passengers in Wolfe’s truck were taken to Butler Memorial Hospital with injuries that were not believed to be serious. Those passengers were Jeffrey A. Wolfe, 31, of Bruin; and two children, an 11-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy, both of Bruin.

Butler Ambulance Service and East Butler Ambulance took the injured to the hospital. Their conditions were not known this morning.

Police said they did not know if Wolfe was injured. An 8-year-old girl, also riding in his pickup, was not hurt.

The other driver, who police did not identify, was uninjured. All occupants, with the exception of Jeffrey Wolfe, in the two pickups were wearing seat belts.

The deer was killed and authorities moved its carcass off to the side of the road.

The Herman Volunteer Fire Company assisted police at the scene.