Police were called by NWAS at 9:28am to the report of a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the A596 near to Dunmail Shopping Centre, Workington.
The collision involved a Ford Fiesta and a Tata Safari.
A Cumbria Police spokesman said: “The driver of the Ford Fiesta, a 74-year-old man from Workington was taken to Royal Victoria Infirmary with serious injuries.
“A passenger in the vehicle, a 73-year-old woman also from Workington was taken to Cumberland Infirmary with serious injuries not believed to be life changing.
“The driver of the Tata Safari a 38-year-old man from Maryport was taken to West Cumberland Hospital with minor injuries.”
A Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “At 10:26am one fire engine from Workington and one fire engine from Whitehaven attended reports of a road traffic collision at Dunmail Park Shopping Centre, Workington.
“The incident involved two vehicles and firefighters used Holmatro cutting equipment to extricate two casualties before passing them to the care of the ambulance service.
One casualty was transported to hospital by air ambulance and another by land ambulance.
“Crews were on scene for approximately two hours.”
The A596 has now reopened.
Any witnesses are asked to contact Cumbria Police on 101.
For the latest information on the roads in Cumbria visit: https://www.cumbria.police.uk/Traffic/Traffic.aspx