Two men died Tuesday night when their 18-wheelers crashed into each other on Interstate 20 in Madison Parish, Sgt. Julie Lewis of the Louisiana State Police said.

Vernon Graves, 62, of Pana, Ill., was headed west in a Kentworth truck between Waverly and Tallulah at 6:48 when his rig veered across the median and hit an eastbound International truck driven by Robert Atnip, 53, of Sumner, Texas. Both rigs caught fire.

Graves died at the scene, Lewis said.

A passenger in Atnip’s eastbound truck, James Watkins, 63, of Paris, Texas, was ejected. He later died at Madison Parish Hospital, Lewis said.

Atnip was taken to River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg where he was treated and released, a hospital spokesman said this morning.

Investigators had no immediate explanation of why Graves’ truck crossed the median, a grass strip about 40 yards wide.

&#8220Alcohol is not expected to be a factor, but routine toxicology tests are pending,” Lewis said.

Eastbound traffic was still being diverted this morning from I-20 to U.S. 80 at Delhi.