NEW BADEN - Two people were injured, one critically, this morning in a fiery, five-vehicle crash that has closed westbound Interstate 64 near New Baden.

State Police said the chain-reaction pileup was reported at 11:45 a.m.

Trooper Mike Link said the vehicles were not in a construction zone but slowing for a construction zone ahead.

Link said the first vehicle was a pickup pulling a trailer, followed by a U-Haul truck pulling a trailer, a semi-trailer truck, a sport-utility vehicle and a flatbed truck.

The driver of the semi-trailer truck was pulled from his burning rig by another motorist and flown to St. Louis University Hospital with life-threatening injuries, Link said.

Only one other person was injured and those injuries were minor, Link said.

"Safety belts saved some lives out here today," he said.

Police said the westbound lanes would probably remain closed until late afternoon at least.

The incident follows an earlier tractor-trailer fire on the Illinois side of the Poplar Street Bridge at 9:50 a.m. today. That struck a median wall and overturned. The driver was able to get away to safety, according to the Illinois State Police.

The eastbound truck crashed where the eastbound lanes split over land, just east of the Mississippi River. East St. Louis firefighters responded.

The State Police said eastbound traffic will be limited to one lane until about noon. The accident added to a head-ache filled traffic day for commuters who use the main river bridge.

The northbound Interstate 55 ramp to the bridge had been closed earlier in the morning and was reopened about 8:40 a.m. today. A stalled tractor-trailer had forced its closing.

Trouble wasn't limited to the Poplar Street Bridge. At I-70 eastbound, on overturned vehicle has two lanes blocked at St. Charles Rock Road.

Also, Heege Road between Valcour and Birkenhead drives in Affton was closed while St. Louis County Water Co. crews repair a water-main break. The closing is at the old Burlington Northern Santa Fe bridge over Heege.