A man was extricated from his vehicle this morning after it went over the guardrail at Highway 154 and Painted Cave Road, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The unidentified 23-year-old driver suffered major injuries and was taken to a hospital, said fire Capt. David Sadecki. He had apparently fallen asleep at the wheel, Sadeck said.

Firefighters used the "Jaws of Life" tool to get the victim out of the vehicle, and he was carried up about 100 feet up the side of a hill by ropes, Sadeck said.

The cause of the 7:20 a.m. accident is under investigation by California Highway Patrol.