Tanker fire closes hwy.

Photo: Twitter - @bubbasnowboards

UPDATED: 8:32 A.M.

Highway 1 has now been reopened in both directions following an early morning tanker truck fire. 

ORIGINAL: 8:09 A.M.

Highway 1 is closed in Kamloops this morning after a tanker truck was rear-ended by a pickup truck, catching fire.

The highway is closed in both directions from exit 369, Columbia Street, to exit 374, the Highway 5 junction.

The accident occurred just after 5:30 a.m.

There are serious injuries in the crash, according to RCMP, and two people were taken to the hospital.

Emergency crews began evacuating nearby homes due to fear of a large explosion, but the fire has now been put out. 

Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.

DriveBC has no estimated time of opening for the highway.

- With files from The Canadian Press