A woman was seriously injured and a man was also hurt in a five-car pileup that shut down the Merritt Parkway, officials say.

The crash happened Tuesday on the northbound side of exits 40 and 41 around 4 p.m.

Norwalk firefighters say the man and woman injured in the crash were inside the same car, and had to be cut free.

They say the man, who was a passenger, was cut free very quickly, but the female driver's extrication took 15 minutes, and she was seriously injured. 

Both victims were transported to Norwalk Hospital. 

Four other people involved in the crash were not injured. 

The parkway was closed for nearly an hour while crews cleared the scene, but has since reopened.