NEAR WANKERS CORNER, Ore. - A commercial truck driver escaped from his burning bread truck Monday morning after the vehicle ran off Interstate 205, crashed into two large trees and ignited in flames, police said.

The truck driver, 43-year-old Jeffrey D. Hartung of Portland, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital, Oregon State Police said. He was listed in critical condition there Monday.

The wreck occurred after Hartung apparently fell asleep while driving on I-205 north of Stafford Road about 4:30 a.m., state police said. As the truck drifted onto the left shoulder, Hartung awoke and tried in vain to steer the truck and trailer back onto the freeway. Instead, the vehicle headed onto the grassy median and crashed head-on into two large cedar trees, causing a fire, state police said.

Hartung, who was injured, was able to get out of the burning cab on his own but was found very close to the heat and flames by passerby Leo Tackett IV of Milwaukie, who, along with other passing drivers, moved Hartung to safety, state police said.

Initially, state police thought Hartung was rescued from the burning vehicle, but officials later determined he had escaped on his own.

The fire nearly destroyed the truck, state police said.