A man was taken into custody on a psychiatric hold after his truck burned on the westbound Bay Bridge approach Thursday just past the toll booths, the California Highway Patrol said.

Around 8 a.m., a 32-year-old Sacramento man driving a white Ford F-150 pickup truck stopped about 115 feet past the plaza after paying his toll. After a few minutes, authorities were called about smoke coming from the truck, said CHP Officer Michael Ferguson.

The truck then became fully engulfed in flames as the man inside got out and “was laughing and taunting firefighters,” a witness told The Chronicle.

Panicked workers and drivers in the area flagged down an officer from the Department of Homeland Security who was passing through the toll booths. The federal officer, along with a San Francisco police officer, subdued the man, making way for firefighters to extinguish the flames.

The fire was out around 8:35 a.m. and all lanes were reopened by 9 a.m. No one was seriously injured.

“Whether he started it or not, I don’t know. We’ll have to investigate,” said CHP Officer Kevin Bartlett.

CHP officers took the man to Highland Hospital in Oakland. He was placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold. Authorities did not arrest the man and are not recommending charges be filed against him.

Ferguson said the man told officers he started the fire himself, but authorities were continuing to investigate the incident.









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Photo: Courtesy Kevin Wilson Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Image 2 of 14 Motorists look at a fire from a burning truck just past the Bay Bridge toll plaza on Thursday morning. Motorists look at a fire from a burning truck just past the Bay Bridge toll plaza on Thursday morning. Photo: Courtesy Jaime Sparr Image 3 of 14 A man stands in front of a burning truck Thursday morning on the Bay Bridge. A man stands in front of a burning truck Thursday morning on the Bay Bridge. Photo: Courtesy Jaime Sparr Image 4 of 14 A man stands in front of a burning truck Thursday morning on the Bay Bridge. A man stands in front of a burning truck Thursday morning on the Bay Bridge. Image 5 of 14 Image 6 of 14 Workers tow away a truck just past the toll plaza of the Bay Bridge that authorities believe was intentionally set a blaze by the driver, in Oakland, Calif. , on Thursday June 19, 2014. The truck fire temporarily blocked several lanes of traffic before it was removed less Workers tow away a truck just past the toll plaza of the Bay Bridge that authorities believe was intentionally set a blaze by the driver, in Oakland, Calif. , on Thursday June 19, 2014. The truck fire ... more Photo: Michael Macor / The Chronicle Image 7 of 14 Workers tow away a truck just past the toll plaza of the Bay Bridge that authorities believe was intentionally set a blaze by the driver, in Oakland, Calif. , on Thursday June 19, 2014. The truck fire temporarily blocked several lanes of traffic before it was removed less Workers tow away a truck just past the toll plaza of the Bay Bridge that authorities believe was intentionally set a blaze by the driver, in Oakland, Calif. , on Thursday June 19, 2014. The truck fire ... more Photo: Michael Macor / The Chronicle Image 8 of 14 A burnt out pickup truck, that closed several lanes of west bound traffic at the bay bridge toll plaza during the morning commute, waits to be hauled away on Thursday June 19, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. A burnt out pickup truck, that closed several lanes of west bound traffic at the bay bridge toll plaza during the morning commute, waits to be hauled away on Thursday June 19, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. Photo: The Chronicle Image 9 of 14 A burnt out pickup truck, that closed several lanes of west bound traffic at the bay bridge toll plaza during the morning commute, waits to be hauled away on Thursday June 19, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. A burnt out pickup truck, that closed several lanes of west bound traffic at the bay bridge toll plaza during the morning commute, waits to be hauled away on Thursday June 19, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. Photo: The Chronicle Image 10 of 14 Image 11 of 14 A burnt out pickup truck, that closed several lanes of west bound traffic at the bay bridge toll plaza during the morning commute, waits to be hauled away on Thursday June 19, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. A burnt out pickup truck, that closed several lanes of west bound traffic at the bay bridge toll plaza during the morning commute, waits to be hauled away on Thursday June 19, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. Photo: The Chronicle Image 12 of 14 A burnt out pickup truck, that closed several lanes of west bound traffic at the bay bridge toll plaza during the morning commute, waits to be hauled away on Thursday June 19, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. A burnt out pickup truck, that closed several lanes of west bound traffic at the bay bridge toll plaza during the morning commute, waits to be hauled away on Thursday June 19, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. Photo: The Chronicle Image 13 of 14 A burnt out pickup truck, that closed several lanes of west bound traffic at the bay bridge toll plaza during the morning commute, waits to be hauled away on Thursday June 19, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. A burnt out pickup truck, that closed several lanes of west bound traffic at the bay bridge toll plaza during the morning commute, waits to be hauled away on Thursday June 19, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. Photo: The Chronicle Image 14 of 14 Psychiatric hold after Bay Bridge truck fire 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

There’s a truck on fire just past the toll plaza and a crazy guy is dancing all around it as they spray him. pic.twitter.com/rJ0MnvQF8j — Kevin Wilson (@silverem2) June 19, 2014

Fire on the Bay Bridge. pic.twitter.com/Egl2kkTbli — Jaime (@jmelavie) June 19, 2014