A transport truck was driven five kilometres the wrong way on Canada's busiest highway before crashing into an oncoming car, injuring its driver, police say.

The bizarre incident began shortly before 6 a.m. yesterday when police began receiving reports of an eastbound transport truck being driven in the west lanes of Hwy. 401 west of Dutton.

Police said the truck was first spotted about four kilometres west of Currie Rd. after it crossed the centre grass median. But before police could track it down the truck collided east of Currie with a westbound car driven by a 63-year-old St. Thomas man.

The collision sent the car into the north ditch where it rolled several times. The driver was taken to St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital with minor injuries.

The truck driver was not injured.

"It looks like the truck was (in the wrong) lane for a few kilometres," said Elgin OPP Const. Troy Carlson.

"We're still trying to determine what happened . . . No explanation was provided by the tractor- trailer driver as to what caused him to cross the centre median or why he continued driving in the wrong direction."

One of the two west lanes was closed for about two hours, slowing rush-hour traffic.

A 41-year old Brampton man is charged with careless driving and driving the wrong way on a divided highway.