HOUSTON --
A driver fell asleep Thursday, causing his big rig to crash and catch fire on the side of a northwest freeway, shutting down the highway for hours, police said.
Investigators said the driver was traveling on Highway 290 inbound when he fell asleep, hit the guardrail and a side wall at Gessner Road at 2:15 a.m. The front end of his rig exploded into flames after fuel leaked.
Gas also spilled down the side of the freeway, igniting another fire.
"Sparks flew, igniting the cab of the truck," said C. Shaw with the Houston Police Department.
The driver managed to get out of the cab and run for safety moments before his rig caught fire. Firefighters doused the flames.
The front of the cab was burned down to the frame.
All eastbound lanes of the freeway from Little York to Gessner remained closed as of 9:30 a.m.
The HOV lanes were open to all passenger vehicles until the scene is cleared.
Traffic is backed up for miles in the area. Drivers are encouraged to take another route.
The driver had traveled from El Paso, investigators said.
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