The Ohio Highway Patrol now says that two people died in a fiery three vehicle crash that shut down eastbound traffic on Interstate 76 in Jackson Township for five-and-a-half hours. 

The accident occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday between State Route 45 and the Ohio Turnpike Interchange.

Troopers tell 21 News that a Toyota station wagon was slowing down as it entered a construction zone when it was struck from behind by a tractor trailer, which pushed the Toyota into another tractor trailer in front of the car.  The crash resulted in a fire.

The two occupants of the Toyota were killed. Their names have not been released pending notification of next of kin. One of the truck drivers sustained only minor injuries.

Traffic was shut down so first responders on the scene could put out the fire and State Troopers could investigate. The road did not open again until 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The Ohio Department of Transportation detoured eastbound traffic off the Bailey Road exit, to Mahoning Avenue east, and then north onto Route 46.

The Ohio Highway Patrol says that so far this year, 16 people have died in 14 crashes in Mahoning county.

11 people were killed in 9 rural crashes. Five have died in five urban crashes.

Before Tuesday night the Ohio Highway Patrol reported four fatal crashes in Mahoning County over the past two weeks.

Fifty-six-year-old Scott E. Wilson of Beloit was killed last Wednesday when his motorcycle was rear-ended by car on U.S. Route 62 in Smith Township.

The driver of the 2001 Chevrolet, Austin Davenport, 20, of Beloit received only minor injuries.

Two Thursdays ago, a South Carolina man died when his horse trailer crashed on I-76 over Lake Milton.

The following day, a Massillon, Ohio woman died and seven others were injured in a fiery crash on the Ohio Turnpike in Austintown.

Three days later twenty-one-year old Stephanie Bucci of Boardman died when her car flipped over on Route 62 in Canfield.

Stay connected with 21 News and wfmj.com for the latest on this developing story.