A driver is in bad shape after falling asleep at the wheel overnight.

Around 3 a.m. Thursday the 42-year-old man was heading west on Highway 40 when he fell asleep, hit an 18-wheeler, and drove through a fence separating the highway from the service road.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene and pulled the man from the wreckage.

He was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The centre and right-hand lanes of the westbound 40 and service road were closed until shortly before 7 a.m.