EAST LYME, Conn. -- Hours after the sun rose on Friday, a tanker truck collided into oncoming traffic on Interstate 95 -- killing three people, seriously injuring three others and shutting down the highway until well after the sun set.

Witnesses described seeing the tanker driving somewhat aggressively before barreling through the median into oncoming traffic. More than seven hours after the crash, the tanker remained on the highway, straddling the median.

State police shut down Interstate 95 in both directions near exit 75 and the East Lyme-Waterford line just after 10:15 a.m. on Friday, when the tanker struck a tractor-trailer and at least four cars and overturned. Authorities reopened at least one northbound lane by 5:30 p.m. When asked at 5 p.m. how far the northbound delays extended from the scene, state police said "forever" and that traffic was stopped as far back as Westbrook.

Pictures From The Scene Video: Traffic Slowly Passes Horrific Tanker Crash Video: Crash Affects Area Businesses

Authorities also reopened at about 5:30 p.m. the portion of Interstate 395 that was closed near exit 77. Local police also closed U.S. Route 1 in the area.

By 9 p.m., authorities were able remove the tanker from the median. The tractor-trailer and other debris remained strewn about the highway.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Leon Collins reported at 3:30 p.m. that a body was possibly still trapped in one of the vehicles that was struck head-on. Dozens of emergency vehicles responded to the scene, and authorities estimated early on that it could take as much as eight hours to clear the highway.

Three people injured were initally listed in critical condition. Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London told Eyewitness News that the hospital has received two people from the crash: One person was treated and released and the other was last listed in good condition by 6 p.m.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Katy Zachry reported a third person was transported to Backus Hospital in Norwich in very serious condition.

Dead, Injured Identified

Police issued the long list of those killed and injured in the crash.

The driver of the tanker trailer was identified as Peter M. Derry, 51, of Webster, Mass. Police said he was killed in the crash.

Luann T. Duglas, 54, of Lyme, Conn., was driving a Mercury Grand Marquis and was killed when her vehicle was totaled, said police.

Fred Held, 33, of Milford, Conn., was killed after his Honda Accord was totaled in the crash, police said.

James J. Clark, 27, of Palchigue, N.Y., was hospitalized with multiple injuries after his tractor-trailer was totaled. Police said the truck he was driving is owned by Southbay Trucking out of Holtsville, N.Y.

Lynn Mariani, 56, of Stonington, Conn., was driving her 2006 Audi with Samirah Clough, 62, of Mystic, Conn. Police said both women were hospitalized with multiple injuries.

John W. Hampton, 43, of Lyme, Conn., refused treatment at the scene of the crash. Police said his Subaru was totaled, but he was able to walk away from the scene.

Witnesses Describe Horrific Incident

"He had been passing vehicles earlier and he had been tailgating a minivan earlier." - Phyllis Martinoey Eyewitness

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Eric Parker reported arriving firefighters from Flanders, Niantic and Waterford knew immediately this was not a routine crash. Emergency crews rushed to transport patients to hospitals, staged fire apparatus in case flames broke out and worked to contain leaking fuel.

State police from Troop F in Westbrook told Eyewitness News they received several 911 calls just before the crash from drivers complaining about how the tanker driver was operating the vehicle. Witnesses at the scene said the operator of the tanker was driving somewhat erratically in the northbound lanes, before crossing into opposing traffic.

"He started hitting the guardrail and it looked like he tried to correct it, and it looked like the cab disconnected from the back, and both went over the guardrail," said Phyllis Martino, a witness who was driving behind the tanker. "He had been passing vehicles earlier and he had been tailgating a minivan earlier."

Witnesses told Eyewitness News that the tanker driver was passing people on the right and tailgating other drivers when he somehow lost control of the vehicle and crossed the median into the southbound lanes, colliding with oncoming traffic.

"I saw the box truck go up in the air and then come back down onto another vehicle. I thought that was going to come across and get me," Martino said.

Police said they urged any of the remaining witnesses to contact Troop E in Montville at 860-848-6500 or toll-free at 800-953-7747.

Tanker Leaked Diesel Fuel

Eyewitness News noticed how a placard on the rear of the tanker displayed the incorrect code number designated for its load. Many people thought the worst, fearing gasoline was rushing out onto the highway.

State police first indicated the truck was carrying home-heating fuel, but it was later confirmed that the tanker leaked an estimated 8500 gallons of diesel fuel.

"We have already finished evacuating the remaining contents of the tanker. There's an adjacent waterway here and we're capturing oil there also," said Mark Decaprio, an administrator for the state Department of Environmental Protection's State Emergency Response Commission.

Earlier in the afternoon, DEP officials said the substance had leaked into Latimer Brook, which flows into Long Island Sound.

By 9 p.m., the DEP and Coast Guard continued to skim diesel fuel out from the brook, as well as removing contaminated soil.

Crash Backs Up Traffic, Postpones Football Game

Dog's Loyalty Fierce Despite Crash

Friday night's high school football game between Killingly and East Lyme has been postponed until Saturday at 4:30 p.m., weather permitting, due to the crash. (Click here for complete Friday Night Football coverage in Connecticut.)

Eyewitness News observed authorities detouring drivers off I-95 at the exit for Flanders Road, which was at a standstill through noon.

Frank Raffa has seen traffic from the windows of Max's Package Store at Flanders Four Corners for years. When I-95 backs up, the traffic backs up in front of his store. Friday's mess was something altogether different.

"This is worst that I've seen in 13 years," Raffa said. "I've seen some bad ones but this is worse."

"What are the roads of East Lyme like today?" Eyewitness News asked Dave Majersky, who was caught in traffic en route to his job at Electric Boat. "Very, very congested," he said.

The state Department of Transportation has recently conducted studies and held hearings on this section of I-95, which locals refer to as "Crash Alley." An addition of a third lane will not be complete for another 10 years: More

The Red Cross has responded to the scene to provide relief to emergency responders.

Tanker Belongs To Danielson Company

Eyewitness News has learned that the tanker belongs to Northeast Carrier LLC, and is registered in Danielson.

The DMV has inspected trucks belonging to this company from 2004 to 2007. During that time, officials found 16 minor violations. The company's vehicles have been involved in three accidents that include a multi-car accident in Rhode Island in 2005, a jack-knifed tractor-trailer in 2006 and a crash in Rhode Island in 2007.

According to the state Department of Motor Vehicles, the company owns nine cabs, eight tankers and 11 trailers that include a combination of box and flat-beds. The DMV said the company's federal rating is one step below the highest possible rating.

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