A Louisiana truck driver was injured this morning when his loaded 18-wheel FedEx truck burst into flames on Interstate 20 just east of Indiana Avenue, tying up the highway’s east and west traffic for hours.

Toney Wiggin, 46, of Downsville, La., was treated and released from River Region Medical Center, hospital spokesman Allen Karel said.

Wiggin told officers he was westbound when he heard a “pop” and lost control of the semi, which rolled across the highway median, almost into the eastbound lanes, and burst into flames, said Lt. Bobby Stewart of the Vicksburg Police Department.

The fire, reported at 4:27 a.m., destroyed the truck’s cab and much of the trailer, which was loaded with packages. Stewart said there were no hazardous materials in the trailer.

The truck was still smoldering at 9, and traffic was moving westbound, but in only one eastbound lane at 10:30 a.m.

Earlier this morning, eastbound traffic was backed up to the Mississippi River bridge, forcing police to reroute interstate traffic from the Indiana Avenue exit along South Frontage Road to the eastbound I-20 entrance at Clay Street. The traffic jam also held up three Vicksburg Warren School District buses, delaying students’ arrival at school for up to 15 minutes, school officials said.

Sgt. Jackie Johnson said police opened one lane of traffic on each side of I-20 about 8 to try to relieve the congestion.

A Federal Express official said this morning that packages would be traced to the shippers and customers would be contacted individually.