One person died in a two-vehicle crash Thursday on Interstate 70 near the Eisenhower Tunnel, according to Colorado State Patrol.

I-70 was closed in both directions west of Denver because of the crash that resulted in a vehicle fire, officials said.

A semitrailer and a RAM pickup truck hauling a trailer crashed and then caught fire on westbound I-70 at mile marker 218 around 1:30 p.m., according to the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office. The interstate near the tunnel was closed due to safety concerns, officials said.

The driver of the RAM and a dog riding in the pickup truck were confirmed dead on scene. The driver of the semitrailer had no injuries, according to State Patrol. 

Traffic was extremely heavy in the area heading into the Fourth of July holiday weekend, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

State Patrol said in a social media post that closures would be in place for several hours and motorists would be faced with “extreme congestion and heat.”

At 5:15 p.m., state patrol confirmed that all lanes have been reopened. 

Detour: 

Visit CO.trip.org for live updates.