TALLULAH, La. (AP) — A fiery wreck Wednesday in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 20 in Madison Parish has claimed two lives, Louisiana State Police said.

All lanes of the highway were open by 5:40 p.m. after being closed more than five hours.

The initial crash occurred about noon when an empty, westbound tanker truck entered a construction zone and hit the rear of a vehicle designed to absorb crashes, state police said in a written statement.

After the impact, the tanker crossed the median and struck, head-on, an eastbound pickup truck hauling a camper-trailer, sparking a fire.

Two occupants in the pickup were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities have not been released.

The driver of the tanker was listed in critical condition at a hospital in Jackson, Miss., state police said. His name also was withheld pending notification of relatives, investigators said.