Police in northern Alberta said a section of Highway 63 was shut down, after a fatal collision on the highway early Tuesday morning.

Wood Buffalo RCMP were called to the collision on Highway 63 at kilometre marker 216 at about 5 a.m. Tuesday.

According to police, a half-ton truck headed southbound crossed the center line and side-swiped a tractor trailer headed northbound. The truck caught fire after the impact.

Police said a 44-year-old male was pronounced dead at the scene.

No one else was injured in the crash.

RCMP said Highway 63 was closed in both directions at the scene of the crash – traffic was being diverted southbound onto Highway 881, and northbound traffic was being diverted onto Stoney Mountain Road to Highway 881.

The highway was expected to reopen at about noon Tuesday.