UPDATE:

A 47-year-old Mossman man was lucky to escape serious injury after he was dragged from his burning vehicle by passers-by moments before it burst into flames.

The man was travelling north on the Captain Cook Highway at around 2:00pm on Sunday when his Range Rover left the road and struck a paperbark tree before catching alight.

A Queensland Police spokesperson said it was reported that up to five explosions from the car occurred sending shrapnel flying for over 40 metres.

The crash occurred on the Captain Cook Highway approximately 5km south of Port Douglas, the driver was the only person in the vehicle.

"Police and emergency services were forced to close the road after the explosion started a small bush fire.

"The man suffered cuts, bruising and a dislocated toe, he was conveyed to Mossman hospital for treatment," the police spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the hospital said the man remains in a stable condition and is likely to be discharged from hospital this afternoon.

Police towed the destroyed vehicle for further forensic inspection. An investigation is underway in relation to the cause of the crash.

EARLIER: (Sunday 9 August)

A man has escaped a fiery crash on the Captain Cook Highway south of Port Douglas this afternoon, with minor injuries.

Paramedics were called to a single-vehicle crash south of the Mowbray River bridge just after 2:00pm.

A Queensland police spokesperson said the vehicle has left the road and hit a tree before catching alight.

The surrounding vegetation also caught on fire as a result but firefighters have since put it out.

Queensland Ambulance said the man has been transported to Mossman Hospital in a stable condition with leg injuries.

Traffic was initially blocked in both directions but one lane has now reopened.