Autobahn A6 was closed for hours after a deadly crash between the  Bruchmuehlbach-Miseau and Landstuhl junctions. (Jochen Tack/Mettman Police)

A 59-year-old van driver pulling a trailer was killed Tuesday on the autobahn A6 near Landstuhl after rear-ending a semi-truck, according to a Westpfalz police spokesman.

The crash occurred around noon between the Bruchmuehlbach-Miseau and Landstuhl junctions in the direction of Mannheim. Both lanes of the A6 near the crash site remained closed as of 4:30 p.m., according to the spokesman.

The semi-truck had slowed down, apparently due to traffic, the police spokesman said.

About 25 emergency personnel were involved in cleaning up spilled gasoline and securing the scene, the newspaper Die Rheinpfalz reported Tuesday afternoon.