A man and woman were trapped for 3 1/2 hours early Thursday in a sports car pinned beneath a water tanker on an Interstate 20 flyover before firefighters finally extricated them about 7:30 a.m.

The victims were speaking with their rescuers during the ordeal and, according to MedStar, did not suffer life-threatening injuries. They were taken to an area hospital.

The 18-wheeler, which was not carrying a load, came to rest atop the retaining wall with the cab dangling about 100 feet in the air. Firefighters were forced to rappel from a ladder truck to rescue the driver.

He was examined at the scene and not taken to a hospital.

The crash happened shortly before 4 a.m. on the flyover from westbound Interstate 20 to southbound Interstate 35W. Investigators have not said what caused it.

Traffic was expected to be tied up in the area for hours as firefighters work to remove the truck from the retaining wall.

Transportation officials said it could be early afternoon before westbound Interstate 20 at I-35W will reopen.

Bridge inspectors will be at the scene to examine the overpass, said Val Lopez, a spokesman with the Texas Department of Transportation.

“”A maintenance crew will be working to put up a temporary guard rail,”” Lopez said. “”From just looking at it, there doesn’t appear to be too much damage, but the inspectors will make the final determination.””