MONROE, Wash. -- One person was killed and a Snohomish County sheriff's deputy was injured in a catastrophic head-on collision on US 2 near Monroe Thursday morning that closed the highway in both directions at Roosevelt Road.

The crash happened at about 4 a.m. when a 1986 Nissan pickup and a sheriff's deputy cruiser collided head-on about six miles west of Monroe.

Video from Chopper 7 showed the pickup with severe front end damage and the cruiser in a ditch. The cruiser's top had to be cut off to free the deputy and the car's front end and left side were destroyed in the crash.

The driver of the pickup, which is believed to have crossed the center line, was killed, Washington State Patrol Trooper Keith Leary said. After the crash, the pickup burst into flames.

Police said the pickup was heading eastbound and the deputy was heading westbound when the crash occurred.

SLIDESHOW: Head-On Crash Kills 1, Injures Deputy

The deputy was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center, where KIRO 7 reporter Michelle Millman was as the deputy arrived.

Millman said the deputy was alert and appeared to be speaking at 5:25 a.m.

A friend and colleague who was visiting the 35-year-old deputy at Harborview told Millman that the deputy suffered head injuries and was having an MRI. The deputy was in stable condition and is expected to be OK.

At the time of the crash the deputy was transporting a prisoner in the back of the car. That person was taken to the Colby Campus of Providence Medical Center in Everett where he was in stable condition.

The deputy has been on the force for about four years.

Troopers are looking for any witnesses who saw the collision occur or saw the tan pickup driving erratically. Anyone with information should call 360-658-2588.

US 2 reopened at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

The pickup is registered to a Monroe address but the driver has not been identified.