The driver of a tanker truck that burst into flames Friday morning was able to save a teddy bear his daughter gave him last year, the Indianapolis Fire Department said. 

The tanker fire early Friday morning halted traffic on all lanes of State Road 37 at Wicker Road for several hours. 

North and southbound lanes were closed about 6:30 a.m. for several miles from Fairview Road to Southport Road.

Indiana State Police said there was extensive damage to the southbound concrete road surface, which will likely extend closure and roads were not expected to reopen until mid afternoon Friday. 

No injuries were reported in the fire. 

The tanker truck's driver was heading from Indianapolis to Mount Vernon when a rear tire blew, causing the vehicle to veer into the right side guardrail, back across two lanes and into the median barriers before he was able to stop the truck. Then the cab burst into flames. 

The driver, 47-year-old Dane Meadows, was able to save the teddy bear his daughter gifted him last year for Father's Day, the fire department said. Everything else, including the cab, was destroyed. 

The tanker portion of the truck was empty except for residual tar and the fire was contained to the cab of the semi, according to the Indianapolis Fire Department.  

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