UPDATE - Friday 10:00pm:A four-vehicle chain-reaction crash on Highway 361 killed two people and sent two others to the hospital Friday, according to the Corpus Christi Police Department.The crash began when a southbound vehicle rear-ended another southbound car carrying two occupants. The impact forced the struck vehicle into oncoming northbound traffic, where it collided head-on with a northbound vehicle. A fourth vehicle, also traveling northbound, then struck the third vehicle.The two occupants of the vehicle forced into oncoming traffic were killed a 55-year-old male driver and a 46-year-old female passenger. Their identities have not been released pending notification of family members.Two other individuals involved in the crash sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Their conditions have not been released.Investigators determined alcohol was not a factor in the collision. The cause of the initial rear-end collision remains under investigation.Highway 361 was temporarily closed in both directions while emergency crews worked the scene and investigators documented the crash site. The collision required emergency responders from multiple agencies._________________________________ORIGINAL STORY:Two people are dead and several others are hospitalized following a four-vehicle collision on Highway 361 Friday afternoon.Corpus Christi Police received the initial call at 3:40 p.m. reporting the crash. The collision involved four vehicles and resulted in multiple casualties, with several people transported to local hospitals for treatment.The fatal crash occurred near the Mayan Princess, prompting authorities to shut down the highway in both directions as emergency crews responded to the scene.The extent of injuries to the hospitalized victims has not been released. The identities of the two people killed are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.Highway 361 remained closed in both directions as investigators worked to determine the cause of the crash and clear the scene. The closure created significant traffic delays in the area.Tuesday's crash comes just three days after a head-on collision on Highway 361 at Access Road 2 in Port Aransas killed one person and seriously injured another Monday evening. Authorities shut down the highway for more than 4 hours following that crash.This is a developing story. This report will be updated as more information becomes available from authorities.For the latest local news updates, click here, or download the KRIS 6 News App.Catch all the KRIS 6 News stories and more on our YouTube page. Subscribe today! ...read more read less