UPDATE: One person dead after big rig and car crash on Highway 183, officers say

UPDATE 11/17/2015 2:33 PM: Officers confirm at least one person is dead after a crash involving a car and a farm truck trailer on Highway 183 near Cooper Rd. in Salinas Tuesday afternoon.

CalTrans said 183 has been shut down from Cooper Rd. to Espinosa Rd. while officers investigate. There isn’t an estimated time when the road will re-open.

Officers said the crash happened southbound just north of Cooper Rd. A Mercedes Benz traveling toward Salinas drifted into oncoming traffic and crashed head on into a flat bed farm truck hauling lettuce, CHP said. Both vehicles caught on fire.

Officers said the driver of the Mercedes died on scene and the truck driver was taken to the hospital.

CHP said another unrelated accident happened shortly after this crash, closer to Cooper Rd.

ORIGINAL STORY: A car and a big rig crashed Tuesday afternoon on Highway 183 near Cooper Rd., causing both to catch on fire, according to California Highway Patrol.

Officers are helping victims get to the hospital.

NewsChannel 5 has a crew on the way to the scene and this story will be updated.