FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO) — Authorities have identified the two people killed in a six-vehicle crash that closed southbound Interstate 69 in southern Allen County for more than eight hours Wednesday.

The Allen County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Bradley Dale Maller, 70, of Kokomo, and a 15-year-old of Fort Wayne. Both died from blunt force injuries sustained in the crash, and their deaths have been ruled accidental.

According to investigators, the crash occurred shortly before 2 p.m. in a construction zone on southbound I-69 near the General Motors assembly plant.

Police say a semi-truck approached two stopped vehicles from behind and struck both. One vehicle was forced into a nearby ditch, while the other collided with another semi-truck. The impact triggered a chain reaction involving additional vehicles and semi-trucks.

Authorities said the force of the initial collision caused a second semi-truck to strike another vehicle from behind, pushing it into a third semi-truck ahead.

According to WANE, the victims, who are believed to have been driving two of the vehicles involved, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the semi-truck that initiated the crash was transported to a local hospital and was reported to be in stable condition.

The crash shut down all southbound lanes of I-69 for several hours as emergency crews responded and investigators processed the scene. The highway reopened at approximately 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.