LaPLACE, La. >>  Authorities say five people were killed when a driver going the wrong way crashed into another vehicle on Interstate 10 outside New Orleans, closing the westbound lanes for nearly five hours.

Louisiana State Trooper Nick Manale says a driver was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-10 near LaPlace early Friday and crashed head-on with another vehicle with four inside. The car traveling the wrong way burst into flames. All five people died at the scene.

Manale says an 18-wheeler then sideswiped the wreck and another vehicle hit the 18-wheeler. The drivers of those vehicles suffered only minor injuries.

Manale says troopers had received reports of the wrong way driver just before the accident occurred.

LaPlace is about 25 miles west of New Orleans.