Three students from Tehachapi High School were hit by an SUV on South Dennison Road outside Tehachapi High School Thursday afternoon.

Tehachapi police were called to the scene around noon.

Two of the students, ages 14 and 16, were transported by ambulance to San Joaquin Community Hospital with moderate injuries. One 15-year-old student was airlifted to Antelope Valley Hospital in critical condition.

The students were walking on the west sidewalk in front of the school when the SUV suddenly accelerated from the parking area.

The SUV drove across a small lawn and on to the sidewalk where the students were hit.

The vehicle then drove across the southbound lanes of Dennison Road and crossed over the median where it stopped in the northbound lane.

It appears the driver had attempted to stop in the parking area and inadvertently pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, according to Tehachapi police.

The driver of the vehicle was a female adult who was at the school to pick up her child.

Dennison Road in front of the high school between Valley Boulevard and Pinon were closed until 2:45 p.m.

Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors in the collision.