Police closed Interstate 57 in both directions for hours after a fatal, four-vehicle crash Tuesday in Franklin County.

Illinois State Police Trooper David Sneed described the accident as a chain-reaction collision involving a pickup truck and three semitrailers at Mile Post 74 1/2, which is between the Benton and Sesser exits. It occurred about 4 p.m. near road construction.

Lawrence L. Rich, 39, of Montgomery, Minn., was driving a semitrailer carrying a load of large steel pipe.

Rich's truck crashed into the rear of a semitrailer driven by Donald G. Troyer, 62, of Nixa, Mo., which was stopped in traffic.

The impact pushed Troyer's semitrailer into another driven by Dale E. Stumbo, 55, of Lima, N.Y. Stumbo's semi was then pushed into a pickup truck driven by David L. Payne, 57, of Woodlawn.

Rich's load of pipe crashed into the cab of his truck, fatally injuring Rich, police said.

Troyer's truck, carrying computer equipment, caught fire, but he did not appear injured, police said. West City Fire Chief Jim Reed said the fire was extinguished shortly after 6 p.m.

Stumbo was taken to Franklin Hospital in Benton by Cardinal EMS for treatment of injuries that did not appear life threatening. Payne did not appear injured, police said.

After the crash, police shut down I-57 traffic in both directions between Mile Post 71 and Mile Post 77.Southbound lanes reopened after about 3 1/2 hours, police said, while northbound lanes remained closed late Tuesday.

Traffic was rerouted onto Illinois 14 to Illinois 148 and to Illinois 154.

Sneed said troopers and emergency personnel from at least Sesser, Christopher, Benton, West City and Cardinal EMS responded to the call.

- Becky Malkovich contributed to this story.