A TRUCK driver travelling on the Hume Highway noticed smoke pouring from his prime mover’s air conditioning vents just before the cab was engulfed by flames yesterday.
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The 38-year-old man had been travelling from Albury to Shepparton — ironically with a load of bottled water — when he saw smoke about 11.50am.
He parked the truck on the side of the road, trying to avoid grass, about two kilometres north of Glenrowan.
Two people passing by attempted to extinguish the fire but the flames engulfed the prime mover.
The two trailers were undamaged and the driver was not hurt.
“At this stage it appears to be either fuel or hydraulic fluid leaking into the engine bay that caused it,” Sgt Glenn Smith said.
“There were huge traffic delays for a short time.”
Flames were about four or five metres high during the fire.
Vehicles had to detour around the scene of the incident, which occurred in the southbound lanes.
The right lane was eventually re-opened and the semi-trailer was moved late yesterday.
Wangaratta fire station officer Carl Stibilj said the driver had done a good job to position the truck away from long grass.
“That stopped it spreading, we would have had a grass fire as well,” he said.