The impact crushed the front of both cars and threw the southbound driver out of his car because he was not wearing a seatbelt.
"There appeared to be no braking and they collided head-on with full force at least at 55 mph each," said McConnell.
Investigators do not believe either driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The highway shut down for several hours and reopened just before 6 a.m.