State Troopers are investigating a fatal crash that closed westbound Interstate 76 in Portage County for three-and-a-half hours early Friday.

According to the Patrol, shortly before 2:30 a.m., the driver of a tractor-trailer struck two people in the road as he was changing lanes to avoid a burning car on the side of the road.

The pedestrians were identified as Yusuf A Evans, 50, Akron, and Tyran Williams-Clark, 29, Barberton.

Evans was pronounced dead at the scene. Williams-Clark was transported to University Hospital for life-threatening injuries. The two are believed to be associated with the vehicle fire which was on the north side of the roadway.

The driver of the Kenworth tractor-trailer was identified as Robin Adamson, 43, Greenville.    

The roadway has reopened.

The crash remains under investigation.