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Hero Truck Driver Takes Burning Truck To A Remote Area Before It Explodes, Killing Him
A commercial truck carrying chemicals used as fertilizer exploded Wednesday on a highway in Arkansas, killing its driver. And while authorities are still investigating the situation, people are already calling the man a hero. At the time of his death, 63-year-old Randall McDougal was trying to extinguish the flame after refusing to abandon the vehicle and taking it away from populated areas.
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Image credits: BamBam The Trucker
Image credits: twitter.com
According to Arkansas State Police, the remains of Mr McDougal of El Dorado were recovered from the site along U.S. Highway 278 west of Camden, east of the Nevada – Ouachita county line near Arkansas Highway 57.
Image credits: ProMed Ambulance
Image credits: ProMed Ambulance
Reportedly, Mr McDougal was transporting ammonium nitrate when his brakes caught on fire. He noticed the fire and called 911. He then proceeded to take the vehicle to a remote area and parked it where there were no houses or buildings. But even then Mr McDougal wouldn’t give up. While first responders were evacuating houses, he was trying to put out the fire. However, the tanker exploded, blowing a 15-foot (4.5-meter) crater in the road and killing him on site.
Image credits: twitter.com
Image credits: ErikaFerrandoTV
A one-mile perimeter has been set and areas near Highway 278 and Highway 57 have been evacuated. “It looks like a bomb went off,” Camden Fire Chief Robert Medford told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “There’s a big hole in the ground on where the truck was at.”
Image credits: ErikaFerrandoTV
Image credits: Unknown
Another driver who’s known online as Bam Bam the trucker shared the story and it has already received over 48k reactions and shares. People are sending their prayers to the family, calling Mr McDougal a hero for putting his life before others.
Image credits: ErikaFerrandoTV
The Arkansas Department of Transportation said crews would begin repairing the crater once the wreckage from the accident was cleared. The affected road is a low-volume road that carries about 1,300 vehicles per day, department spokesman Danny Straessle said.
Image credits: ErikaFerrandoTV
According to Melody Daniel, a spokeswoman for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, officials haven’t yet determined what caused the truck to catch fire. Also, three injured firefighters were brought to the hospital for their injuries, and two were later released, she said.
Camden Fire Department Assistant Chief Ron Nash said the force of the blast tore the tops of the surrounding pine trees and shattered the windshield of a fire truck and a Camden Fairview School District bus.
Here’s video from the Ouachita Electric Cooperative of the scene down in Camden. The Department of Emergency Management has confirmed one has died from the explosion. @KATVNews #ARNews pic.twitter.com/W8zspbj8Nj
— Nick Popham (@KATVPopham) March 27, 2019
Image credits: ScottofLR
Image credits: AlwaysLake
People were incredibly moved by Mr McDougal’s heroic actions
What do you think ?
Stcejbo Era Nemow 5 years ago
RIP Randall McDougal. You we're a very brave, selfless man. You are a true hero.
Effseven Six 5 years ago
In most cases I'd say truckers are sorta like ship captains. Thier cargo and truck are important, but more so is the lives of others. They'll go down with it, if it means saving lives. We had something like that where I live. Trucker on the freeway got cut off and lost control. Instead of possibly causing a huge accident and killing people he ran himself into the side wall. He lived, and saved lives. I have A LOT of respect for them. RIP Mr. McDougal. You were a hero that day.
Cesi Baca 5 years ago
I don’t understand though. What was he actually doing with the truck? Was he trying to shut off something or stop the chemicals from flowing. He must have know he wasn’t finna make it. Just amazing bravery.
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Stcejbo Era Nemow 5 years ago
RIP Randall McDougal. You we're a very brave, selfless man. You are a true hero.
Effseven Six 5 years ago
In most cases I'd say truckers are sorta like ship captains. Thier cargo and truck are important, but more so is the lives of others. They'll go down with it, if it means saving lives. We had something like that where I live. Trucker on the freeway got cut off and lost control. Instead of possibly causing a huge accident and killing people he ran himself into the side wall. He lived, and saved lives. I have A LOT of respect for them. RIP Mr. McDougal. You were a hero that day.
Cesi Baca 5 years ago
I don’t understand though. What was he actually doing with the truck? Was he trying to shut off something or stop the chemicals from flowing. He must have know he wasn’t finna make it. Just amazing bravery.
Load More Replies...
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