# Beckdawrecks bad, bad, bad bomb. ( or, why did my world blow up?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 27, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637 "2019-03-27T22:35:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/1 "2019-03-27T22:35:31Z")
So I get outta the bed this morning. Mainly because 2 Siamese cats were howling at decibels I couldn’t ignore. I stumble down the hall and down the stairs. You know there is nothing quite as gross smelling as kitty pate’ first thing in the morning. Yummy! Cats are munching. I put the electric kettle on. I turn around to get the coffee out of the cupboard. And ‘BOOM’, not a little boom, a huge ‘BOOM’. Electricity goes off. Cats are flying through the air. To the highest beam in the living room.(their usual spot in emergencies) The log house shook, glass rattled. I really thought the end was nigh. Jesus H. Christ. Yea, really. I wish I was a faithful church member. I’m going straight to hell, I just know it. But no. Not today, anyway. A tanker truck carrying fertilizer caught on fire and exploded. The explosion was 12 miles from my house. The boom was heard in Little Rock. Amazing. It left a crater 12-18 feet deep. Of course it’s the main drag I drive. My electric came back alittle while ago. The cats finally came outta the beams. I’m not sure they’ll ever trust me to open a can of kitty pate’ again. I knew that crap was dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/2 "2019-03-27T22:44:59Z")
I’m guessing things didn’t go well for the trucker… ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/3 "2019-03-27T22:52:40Z")
Unfortunately the driver was killed. > **[Driver killed after fertilizer truck explodes in south Arkansas; area...](https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/mar/27/fertilizer-truck-explosion-spurs-evacuations-south/)** > > The driver of a truck hauling fertilizer chemicals was killed when the truck’s wheels caught fire and it exploded in southern Arkansas Wednesday morning, causing a boom that was heard for miles and prompting an evacuation of the surrounding area,... > **[Fertilizer truck explodes, 1 dead, creates massive crater, Arkansas...](https://www.ktbs.com/news/texarkana/fertilizer-truck-explodes-dead-creates-massive-crater-arkansas-officials-say/article_4dc572ba-5093-11e9-a255-0b650d4c6efe.html)** > > CAMDEN, Ark. - Authorities say a commercial truck carrying a fertilizer exploded on a highway in south Arkansas, killing one person and creating a massive crater in the road. The truck was carrying ammonium nitrate the same stuff which exploded in the West, Texas elevator explosion which killed 15 people: > **[West Fertilizer Company explosion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Fertilizer_Company_explosion)** > > On April 17, 2013, an ammonium nitrate explosion occurred at the West Fertilizer Company storage and distribution facility in West, Texas, United States (18 miles (29 km) north of Waco), while emergency services personnel were responding to a fire at the facility. Fifteen people were killed, more than 160 were injured, and more than 150 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Investigators confirmed that ammonium nitrate was the material that exploded. On May 11, 2016, the Bureau of Alcohol, T Wes... ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/4 "2019-03-27T22:52:43Z")
No. He was killed. Thanks for the links. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/5 "2019-03-28T00:09:34Z")
Ammonium nitrate can just explode like that? I thought it had to be mixed with gasoline or something in order for an explosion to happen? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/6 "2019-03-28T00:28:42Z")
The truck was diesel and the tires were on fire. Bad luck and bad roads. I feel like he was Jake braking probably trying to avoid deer. Don’t know that for sure, just a WAG. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/7 "2019-03-28T01:28:12Z")
You have my empathy Beck, I was 12 when a bakery about a 1/2 mile from my house exploded. My family was worried about Dad since he worked about 3 blocks from there at the time. Um, watch out for “thank you gifts” from the kitties for feeding them exploding prank paté for the next few weeks maybe? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/8 "2019-03-28T01:35:23Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Ammonium nitrate can just explode like that? I thought it had to be mixed with gasoline or something in order for an explosion to happen? No, it takes some serious heat and pressure to make it explode, [but it does](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_nitrate_disasters). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/9 "2019-03-28T01:39:19Z")
> [@guestchaz](#): > > You have my empathy Beck, I was 12 when a bakery about a 1/2 mile from my house exploded. My family was worried about Dad since he worked about 3 blocks from there at the time. > > Um, watch out for “thank you gifts” from the kitties for feeding them exploding prank paté for the next few weeks maybe? Yep, little bombs of their own making. I fully expect revenge. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/10 "2019-03-28T01:40:10Z")
Cats are thinking, “Now it’s exploding cucumbers!” (Sorry somebody died though. Glad you’re okay, **Beck**.) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/11 "2019-03-28T01:47:20Z")
And now we know (to an even finer degree) where you live. 😉 That is a pretty impressive crater left behind. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/12 "2019-03-28T01:56:01Z")
Well it ain’t walking distance. You get to the crater and I’ll come get you. Holler real loud.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/13 "2019-03-28T01:57:41Z")
:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/14 "2019-03-28T02:07:01Z")
From the photo, this seems like the Mythbusters’ cement truck explosion where the vehicle didn’t get wrecked so much as it just “went away”. Confirming the death of the driver probably wasn’t a matter of finding the body, it was finding itsy bitsy bits of person, strewn all over… Grim. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/15 "2019-03-28T02:13:05Z")
Someone reported his family was on site in the afternoon. And his 2 boys drive for the same company. This may just be rumors. Of course the stories are flying fast and fierce. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/16 "2019-03-28T03:09:22Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I’m guessing things didn’t go well for the trucker… Yeah, I would guess that any explosion that can be heard 12 miles away isn’t going to be survivable for anyone in the immediate vicinity. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/17 "2019-03-28T03:11:42Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > And now we know (to an even finer degree) where you live. 😉 > > That is a pretty impressive crater left behind. Yep, this is like _Taken 2_ where Liam Neeson triangulates his position via grenades. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/18 "2019-03-28T03:35:46Z")
Oh it was heard further than 12 miles. Maybe up to 75miles away. According to the statewide news. I was 12 miles away, how the crow flies. It broke windows out of the few houses in the immediate area. A firetruck may be totalled. The fire-chiefs truck was 1/2 mile away and all glass was broken and all airbags deployed. It literally made me stumble and my ears felt weird. It’s a miracle no one else on scene was killed. Many 1st responders were there. For some reason the driver went back to the truck and then it exploded. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/19 "2019-03-28T15:54:14Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Cats are flying through the air. To the highest beam in the living room.**(their usual spot in emergencies)** This is a kind of sad thread, and deserves the appropriate respect for a tragedy. . … … … … … But I can’t resist asking: what other emergencies occur often enough in your house, such that there exists a usual spot to which the cats are prepared in advance to fly? Surely you’ve got some more stories to tell us, **Beck**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/20 "2019-03-28T16:15:12Z")
It’s like The Wages of Fear. Where’d the truck go? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637.md?page=2)