Two people were injured Friday afternoon when a trash truck hit a tractor trailer carrying fuel on Highway 21.

A Republic Services waste truck rear-ended a Petroleum Transport Company tanker truck on Highway 21 southbound just past the railroad tracks in Rincon.

All lanes of traffic were shut down as a Lifestar helicopter landed on Highway 21. The driver of the trash truck was airlifted from the scene and the tanker driver was taken to Effingham Hospital, according to the Georgia State Patrol.

"We have a witness who said they never saw (the trash truck driver) put on brakes," said GSP Troop Commander Billy Hitchens.

Emergency workers from throughout the county responded to the scene. Some fuel spilled from the tanker and a crew could be seen cleaning it up.

Once the Lifestar helicopter took off for a Savannah hospital, one lane of traffic reopened in each direction around 2 p.m.