# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/81 "2019-03-31T16:57:07Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Yes, it was. I didn’t see any debris in any pictures. I see the crater is filled and blacktopped. I thought they couldn’t lay that stuff unless the weather was hot. Road crews can use something called an asphalt cold patch. This is typical to fill in potholes that threaten to swallow semis or schoolbuses filled with small children during the winter months. It’s a crummy patch. The edges will chip away, the patch will crack, and it will eventually crumble. But it’s cheap, and can be done year round. With budget cuts and zero municipal funding, sometimes cold patches are done over and over, and entire stretches are a patchwork quilt of cold patches. When the money can be scraped together, roads are blocked off, the big machinery is hauled out, and a big stinkin’ cauldron of hot tar fills the surrounding area with fumes, and the job is done right. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/82 "2019-03-31T18:21:08Z")
The driver is being memorialized on [imgur](https://m.imgur.com/gallery/iAgtGbq) for having protected others and dying in the process. > [@](#): > > Today in Camden Arkansas a truck driver carrying ammonium nitrate brakes caught on fire, while driving the operator of the rig noticed the fire called 911. He turned his rig down an abandoned stretch of highway where there was no houses or buildings. He parked the truck and while first responders were evacuating houses he was trying to put out the fire when the tanker exploded blowing a 15ft crater in the road killing the driver who put his life before others to keep them safe. The explosion was felt a hundred miles away. The driver was the only casualty in this accident his name was Randall McDougal 63 years old. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/83 "2019-03-31T21:01:18Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > The driver is being memorialized on [imgur](https://m.imgur.com/gallery/iAgtGbq) for having protected others and dying in the process. Thanks, Dropzone. It is totally useless to say, but he was a good guy. ---
**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 31, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/84 "2019-03-31T21:32:52Z")
I read that the trucking company he worked for has had several infractions and fines due to unsafe trucks. This may get nasty. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/85 "2019-03-31T21:45:07Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > With all the other explosions mentioned I am surprised that nobody has yet brought up the 1947 Texas City explosion, which did indeed start with ammonium nitrate. The article here says it was the largest non-nuclear industrial explosion recorded. My father once mentioned seeing this disaster on movie newsreels. > > [Texas City disaster - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City_disaster) My dad actually was a toddler in Galveston at the time, and at some point moved to the town adjacent to Texas City when he was a boy (La Marque). He said that it wasn’t uncommon for people his age or a couple years younger to have small facial scars from blown-in window glass hitting them in the face when they were sleeping as babies. ISTR reading somewhere that the explosion of the _SS Grandcamp_ was roughly equivalent to a one-kiloton nuclear weapon in terms of blast. There’s actually a whole section of the county cemetery that my grandmother explained was built specifically for victims of the disaster, since there weren’t enough spaces available in the existing sections. Oh, and one more thing- a good friend of mine grew up in Camden (the town where the truck blew up near **Beckdawreck** ), and based on what he’s told me, every weird story she tells is probably true. It seems to be an unusual area around there, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/86 "2019-03-31T21:49:14Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Thanks, Dropzone. It is totally useless to say, but he was a good guy. It’s NOT useless! He is being remembered as a hero, all any of us can ask. ---
**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 31, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/87 "2019-03-31T21:55:21Z")
> [@bump](#): > > My dad actually was a toddler in Galveston at the time, and at some point moved to the town adjacent to Texas City when he was a boy (La Marque). > > He said that it wasn’t uncommon for people his age or a couple years younger to have small facial scars from blown-in window glass hitting them in the face when they were sleeping as babies. ISTR reading somewhere that the explosion of the _SS Grandcamp_ was roughly equivalent to a one-kiloton nuclear weapon in terms of blast. > > There’s actually a whole section of the county cemetery that my grandmother explained was built specifically for victims of the disaster, since there weren’t enough spaces available in the existing sections. > > Oh, and one more thing- a good friend of mine grew up in Camden (the town where the truck blew up near **Beckdawreck** ), and based on what he’s told me, every weird story she tells is probably true. It seems to be an unusual area around there, that’s for sure. You can’t make this shit up, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/88 "2019-04-01T00:40:38Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I read that the trucking company he worked for has had several infractions and fines due to unsafe trucks. This may get nasty. ASSUMING that this is the same company, there might be information [here](https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Carrier/594762/BASIC/VehicleMaint.aspx) of interest. If you dig down to “Violation Summary” you may find several violations wrt brakes. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/89 "2019-04-01T00:53:47Z")
I watched the local news coverage of this explosion. I went to technical school for 2 years in E Camden. That whole area was a military proving ground. We used to party in some of the old concrete bunkers. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/90 "2019-04-01T01:11:00Z")
The Tech. College is still there. Also the LE training academy, a Fire training academy. Lots of government contractors. E. Camden is a fast growing area. Unfortunately Camden proper is declining. During the Civil war Camden was the 2nd largest city in Arkansas. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/91 "2019-04-01T01:21:28Z")
There was still an old movie theater, drive in, and also a twin cinema when I went to school. A friend told me awhile ago there’s none there now. I took dates to all three theatres. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/92 "2019-04-01T01:36:37Z")
No movie theatres. Been gone awhile. Uptown is a ghost town. Of course Wal-Mart put all the mom and pops out of business. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/93 "2019-04-01T01:44:25Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > The Tech. College is still there. Also the LE training academy, a Fire training academy. Lots of government contractors. E. Camden is a fast growing area. Unfortunately Camden proper is declining. During the Civil war Camden was the 2nd largest city in Arkansas. There is a book about…some yankee’s…retreat from or to Camden. It is in the Arkansas room at the library where I used to work. [Steele.](https://www.amazon.com/Steeles-Retreat-Camden-Battle-Jenkins/dp/096022551X) ---
**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:** [April 1, 2019, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/94 "2019-04-01T01:48:09Z")
Look up The disappearance of Maud Crawford. Interesting mystery. Happened in Camden. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/95 "2019-04-01T02:02:57Z")
Is there any way you can manufacture a small emergency and film the cats heading for the beam? I’m picturing a live-action Warner Bros. cartoon. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/96 "2019-04-01T02:15:27Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Look up The disappearance of Maud Crawford. Interesting mystery. Happened in Camden. I did. It’s quite a story, but this bit about Maud really stuck out: > [@](#): > > In 1916, Robinson began work as a stenographer at the Gaughan law firm in Camden, the county seat of Ouachita County, also in southern Arkansas. In 1925, she married Clyde Falwell Crawford (1894–1969), a scion of a pioneer Camden family. The couple had no children. > > Having learned the principles of law while working at the Gaughan firm, in 1927, Crawford took the bar exam at the University of Arkansas School of Law. **She passed the exam, ranking first in her class.** Crawford’s field of expertise was estate management and title work, important to an area with considerable petroleum drilling. She was admitted to the bar ten years after women were first permitted to practice law in Arkansas. [Bolding added] She must have been brilliant. Even without the mystery, her story would be notable. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/97 "2019-04-01T02:16:29Z")
[Forgot the link.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maud_Crawford) ---
**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:** [April 1, 2019, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/98 "2019-04-01T02:22:33Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > Is there any way you can manufacture a small emergency and film the cats heading for the beam? I’m picturing a live-action Warner Bros. cartoon. Their attorneys won’t allow filming by an amateur. (IOW, they will never do anything for the camera, coz, well, Cats.) ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/99 "2019-04-01T07:39:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Is there any way you can manufacture\*\* a small emergency\*\* and film the cats? C’mon, folks, let’s be careful here! This is **Beckdawreck** we’re talking to! She never does anything small…Her problems are always bad,bad,bad. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637/100 "2019-04-01T14:36:42Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Dude, it’s bad karma. Don’t stand too close to me, you might get struck by lightening.🙂 > Wait til I tell y’all the harrowing experience I had trying to get to town today. I’m nauseated thinking about it. I need a nap. If they put you and Jessica Fletcher in a locked room together, which one of you would come out unscathed? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrecks-bad-bad-bad-bomb-or-why-did-my-world-blow-up/831637.md?page=6)