We’re on the scene. There are pieces of the truck scattered and a 15 foot crater in the middle of the highway. @THV11 pic.twitter.com/PxiiZlZ1Ty
— Erika Ferrando KKTV (@ErikaFerrandoTV) March 27, 2019
Truck Driver Randall McDougal was driving his commercial carrier truck on the 88-mile journey from El Dorado to Texarkana.
The 63-year-old noticed his truck brakes were on fire while he was driving.
His truck was carrying dangerous ammonium nitrate—a highly explosive substance used in fertilizer. Realizing the danger he called 911.
Randall then parked his truck in a remote area fearing his truck could explode at any moment.
He could have easily walked away from the scene but instead made sure others were out of harm’s way.
Moved residents out of danger
The brave truck driver then tried to put the fire out himself, officials said.
When firefighters arrived at the scene to move nearby residents out of harm’s way they saw Randall return to his truck.
Tragically, the truck exploded as he got near the vehicle and he was killed.
State police believe the truck driver was Randall McDougal, 63, of El Dorado. He worked for Blann Trucking Company of Hampton. His friend and coworker shared this photo with me. He told me McDougal was married with one son. He said he loved his job. pic.twitter.com/MWeaAFWEjB
— Erika Ferrando KKTV (@ErikaFerrandoTV) March 27, 2019
The impact of the fatal explosion was so powerful that the surrounding trees were leveled to the ground and a massive 15-foot crater was created in the middle of the highway, according to The Epoch Times.
Arkansas Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin tweeted his condolences to Randall McDougal’s family.
“My thoughts & prayers go out to all affected, especially the family of the victim killed in the tragic explosion near Camden,” he said in a Twitter post.
My thoughts & prayers go out to all affected, especially the family of the victim killed in the tragic explosion near Camden. Please keep our first responders in your prayers as they work to contain this incident. https://t.co/xORz6gWWbJ
— Attorney General Tim Griffin (@AGTimGriffin) March 27, 2019
Now the brave truck driver is being hailed a hero on social media.
“Most would have run–that man IS a hero, and I cried reading the reporting that day. He did everything he could to get people away and tried to put the fire out himself,” one user wrote.
Fnd out more about this tragic story in the video below.
[arve url=”https://www.facebook.com/KARK4/videos/978809722314304/” /]
Please share to pay tribute to a hero, who sacrificed his own life to ensure others were safe.