Two people were injured, one critically, in a fiery, five-vehicle crash about 11:45 a.m. Friday that closed westbound Interstate 64 near New Baden for hours, Illinois State Police said.

Trooper Mike Link said it happened as traffic slowed for a construction zone ahead.

The vehicles involved were a pickup pulling a trailer, a U-Haul truck pulling a trailer, a tractor-trailer, an SUV and a flatbed truck.

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

Injuries to a second person were minor. "Safety belts saved some lives out here today," Link said.