Fiery truck crash on Trans-Canada kills 2

Two people were killed in a fiery crash between a tanker truck and apickup truckon the Trans-Canada Highway in northern Nova Scotia early Wednesday afternoon.

Police, paramedics and several fire departmentswere calledto the scene of the crash, which occurred on Highway 104near Kenzieville in Pictou County.

It's believed the trucks collided head on, setting fire to the used motor oil the tanker truck was carrying in the process.

Both drivers were killed, but no details about them have been released. The body of one of the drivers was found in the woods near the highway.

A cloud of dark, black smokecould be seen billowing from the crash sitefrom several kilometres away.

Ahazardous waste team was brought in from Truro, butfirefighters said they will not put water or flame retardants directly on the fire for fear that the oil could flow into the nearbyBarneys River.

The fire was still burning late Wednesday afternoon and could continue to burn through the night. Itis being monitored to ensure it does not spread to nearby trees.

Highway 104 is closed between exits 27 and 29 and will remain closed overnight. The Department of Transportation is re-routing traffic along Highway 4.

Explosions from the fire could be heard fromkilometres away and the smoke was so thick and intense the tractor-trailer wasn't even visible in the bushes at the side of the road.

The smoke from the fire could be seenin three surrounding counties.

Merigomish Fire Chief Paul Schnurr said he was worried about thecontents of the smoke, so crews were trying to stay upwind of it.

Police will investigate the collision but won't be able to do so until the fire burns out.