An elderly driver is dead after a serious two vehicle crash on I-295, just before 6 am that closed down the highway in both directions for several hours and snarled traffic during drive time this morning.

The crash took place southbound south of the bridge over the Fore River, near exit 4.

86-year-old George Vandenburgh of Portland drove his Ford Fusion the wrong way and into a tractor-trailer.

Vandenburgh was reportedly seen driving through the I-295 tolls in South Portland, before the accident.

Vandenburgh was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was taken to the Maine Medical Center in Portland with non-life-threatening injuries.

The accident is under investigation.