EDISON — A tractor trailer hauling 7,000 pounds of trash caught fire on the New Jersey Turnpike on Tuesday morning.

The truck, which had two fuel tanks, was engulfed in heavy flames and thick black smoke after pulling over to the side of the southbound outer lanes near Exit 9 in Edison around 10:30 a.m., according to State Police Lt. Ted Schafer.

The fire also started a small brush fire along the road.

Schafer said the driver safely got out of the truck and no other vehicles were involved.

The Edison Fire Department was the first to respond to the fire.

Lane closures and rubbernecking caused a multi-mile delay in both the car and truck lanes.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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