Truck fire halts 401 traffic near Highway 77

A truck fire on Highway 401 westbound around the 52 km marker at about 5 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. (Jason Stroud/MyNews)

A transport truck was destroyed after it caught fire early Monday morning on Highway 401.

OPP say it happened around  4:55 a.m. in the westbound lanes of Highway 401 near the 51 kilometer marker.

A Volvo tractor trailer carrying a load of paper products caught fire and was fully engulfed upon fire department and police arriving on scene.

The driver and sole occupant of the truck was treated for smoke inhalation at an area hospital but was otherwise unharmed.

A lane reduction on Highway 401 westbound between Essex County Road 42 and Highway 77 will be in place until approximately 12 p.m. as the vehicle is being removed from the highway.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.