Mexico dynamite truck explosion kills 34

[Random_Facts]

PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico - A dynamite-laden truck exploded after colliding with another vehicle on a busy highway in northern Mexico's coal country, killing at least 34 people, including three reporters at the scene, state and federal officials said.

Authorities said the two vehicles crashed into each other Sunday evening, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers as well as a small army of police, soldiers, emergency officials and journalists.

Shortly after the crowd arrived, the wreckage caught fire, and the dynamite exploded, sending a ball of fire into the sky that consumed nearby cars and left a 10-by-40 foot crater in the concrete, said Maximo Alberto Neri Lopez, a federal police official.

He said more than 150 people were injured.

The force of the explosion blew out the windows of a passenger bus a quarter-mile away.

The dead included three newspaper reporters from the nearby city of Monclova, said Luis Horacio de Hoyos of the Coahuila state Attorney General's Office.

It was unclear if the explosive truck's driver was among the dead. Early reports said he might have fled.

Coahuila state has a large mining industry, most of it in coal.

The explosion raised further questions about the safety of Mexican trucks.

This weekend, Mexico began sending its first tractor-trailers across U.S. territory under a long-delayed, NAFTA-mandated program. Before, Mexican trucks were limited to 25-mile zone along the border.

Many in the U.S. fought the change, arguing that Mexican trucks are unsafe.

Randy Grider, editor of Truckers News magazine, however, said Mexican trucks with hazardous materials aren't included in the new program.

"I think it would be a very long time before the border would open to hazardous loads," he said.

The truck that exploded in Coahuila did not appear to be headed for the U.S. It had recently left an Orica explosives plant and was headed west to Coquimatlan, Colima, a federal police officer who was not authorized to give his name told The Associated Press by phone.

A woman who answered the phone at Orica's offices in Monclova said all company officials were at a meeting, and she could not comment. The company is based in Australia and has operations in 50 countries across six continents.

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Associated Press writer E. Eduardo Castillo contributed to this report.

_____



Tragic. :shock: :sad:

[Phantom433a]

Just read it at yahoo, and yes it is very tragic.

[Sheepdancer]

I wonder how long it will take someone on this board to attach this incident to the mexican driver issue?

[Ridge Runner]

I wonder how long it will take someone on this board to attach this incident to the mexican driver issue?

You just did. :wink:

[PackRatTDI]

I wonder how long it will take someone on this board to attach this incident to the mexican driver issue?

You just did. :wink:

Actually, the reporter who wrote the story did. Talk about grasping at straws.

[ben45750]

I wonder how long it will take someone on this board to attach this incident to the mexican driver issue?

You just did. :wink:

lol

[Ridge Runner]

I wonder how long it will take someone on this board to attach this incident to the mexican driver issue?

You just did. :wink:

Actually, the reporter who wrote the story did. Talk about grasping at straws.

Unless the reporter is a poster here, my statement stands.

[roadranger]

I don't think there will be too many Mexican trucks filled with dynamite allowed over the border any time soon!


I'm suprised it blew up - dynamite just burns unless it is a real crappy grade or packed together with the blasting caps (real stoopid move!).
Are the chinese tire factories making dynamite this days?
:shock: :shock: :shock:

[flood]

I don't think there will be too many Mexican trucks filled with dynamite allowed over the border any time soon!


I'm suprised it blew up - dynamite just burns unless it is a real crappy grade or packed together with the blasting caps (real stoopid move!).
Are the chinese tire factories making dynamite this days?
:shock: :shock: :shock:

it was 25 tons of ammonium nitrate...! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070911/...NU.5qQ1063IxIF

[PackRatTDI]

I don't think there will be too many Mexican trucks filled with dynamite allowed over the border any time soon!


I'm suprised it blew up - dynamite just burns unless it is a real crappy grade or packed together with the blasting caps (real stoopid move!).
Are the chinese tire factories making dynamite this days?
:shock: :shock: :shock:

it was 25 tons of ammonium nitrate...! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070911/...NU.5qQ1063IxIF

Wasn't that what Hugh was hauling on that run where he had the accident on Ice Road Truckers?

[Karnajj]

Several things have come to light in recent days. First, they can't find the drivers of the truck. Second, it was ammonium nitrate not dynamite. Third, ammonium nitrate cannot explode on its own, it needs an igniter. Without an igniter it just burns and sputters but does not explode. Authorities are saying it doesn't look like an accident anymore.

[roadranger]

Actually I beleive ammonium nitrate alone can't explode even with a blasting cap - it needs to be mixed with diesel (or another fuel?).

[golfhobo]

I wonder how long it will take someone on this board to attach this incident to the mexican driver issue?

You just did. :wink:

Actually, the reporter who wrote the story did. Talk about grasping at straws.

I don't think it is "grasping at straws" one bit!

If NOT for its relevance to the Mexican Driver issue, it would have little newsworthiness to Americans.

And, it DOES point out a few concerns:

Was the load NOT marked as Hazardous Material?? Apparently, the police and reporters had NO warning to "Stay back!"

And is it SOP for Mexican officials (police) to be so STUPID as to not protect their citizens from danger by keeping THEM back??

Why was the FIRST thought about the driver that he may have RUN AWAY??

Could it have been his HOS violation? Or his illegal driver's licence? Or just his lack of integrity to stay and face charges? (I'm not saying any of these are necessarily TRUE.)

And is the lack of comment by the company involved (not Mexican, but operating from there) going to be the normal response by companies in Mexico IF and WHEN such an accident happens here in the U.S.???

I think it is absolutely "relevant" to Americans to hear about such incidents involving Mexican trucking! Especially in light of what the DOT/IG was reported as having found out (on another thread) concerning the intentional mislabeling of violations in the border states.

Or could it be that someone prefers (and you condone) HIDING this information from the American public?

[Fozzy]

yawn...

[golfhobo]

Still not sleeping well, Fozzy?

Apparently, you think any concern over the Mexican Driver issue is "tiresome."

Do you feel the same way about the issue of Chinese toys being covered in LEADED paint??

How about the lack of inspections of overseas containers entering our ports?

Surely there is no possible danger coming from any of these FOREIGN countries!

Oh.... but it's OKAY to keep Canadian pharmaceuticals away from Americans because they MIGHT be defective? (Even tho they were MADE here and can be "reshipped" from Canada at a savings?)

And to invade the privacy of Americans by spying on their internet and phone conversations because they MIGHT be terrorists?

I got an idea! Why not put some of those WELL TRAINED Mexican soldiers in a foxhole with our troops, supposedly protecting OUR country from terrorists! I'm SURE they can do it as well as OUR military.... and think of all the American Military jobs we could eliminate!!

[Fozzy]

Still not sleeping well, Fozzy?

I sleep quite well, but I do not have little Mexican bogeymen to disrupt it like some around here...

Apparently, you think any concern over the Mexican Driver issue is "tiresome."

It is.. how many threads does this make now? I forget...

Do you feel the same way about the issue of Chinese toys being covered in LEADED paint??

I do not care about the issue, there are a lot of people (us included) that lived in houses that had lead paint, breathed air that had leaded gasoline fumes in them, and we didn't feel like victims. The lead paint thing is also tiresome.

How about the lack of inspections of overseas containers entering our ports?

How about em? This has been going on since before I started hauling containers in the early eighties.. and it will still be going on when you and I and probably our children retire. inspecting every single container is just not possible and everyone here knows it.

Surely there is no possible danger coming from any of these FOREIGN countries!

Maybe we should start banning rental trucks, some religions and books like the Turner diaries? This foreign issue sure didn't pop up over night and its not going anywhere anytime soon.

Oh.... but it's OKAY to keep Canadian pharmaceuticals away from Americans because they MIGHT be defective? (Even tho they were MADE here and can be "reshipped" from Canada at a savings?)

Another non issue.. there is no way that we can do this unless the government buys all the drugs and issues them to you. Are you for socialized medical coverage for everyone here? This will of course include all the illegals ya know.

And to invade the privacy of Americans by spying on their internet and phone conversations because they MIGHT be terrorists?

Name one or shut up...

I got an idea! Why not put some of those WELL TRAINED Mexican soldiers in a foxhole with our troops, supposedly protecting OUR country from terrorists! I'm SURE they can do it as well as OUR military.... and think of all the American Military jobs we could eliminate!!

I've got another idea.. why not lay off the drugs that you are getting from Canada.. they seem to be tainted with something. Why do some people insist on having these fantasy arguments and points that are impossible do do anything about? Im sure tomorrow, you'll be absolutely livid that the sun came up.. and will of course demand that it be stopped..

[PackRatTDI]

I wonder how long it will take someone on this board to attach this incident to the mexican driver issue?

You just did. :wink:

Actually, the reporter who wrote the story did. Talk about grasping at straws.

I don't think it is "grasping at straws" one bit!

If NOT for its relevance to the Mexican Driver issue, it would have little newsworthiness to Americans.

And, it DOES point out a few concerns:

Was the load NOT marked as Hazardous Material?? Apparently, the police and reporters had NO warning to "Stay back!"

And is it SOP for Mexican officials (police) to be so STUPID as to not protect their citizens from danger by keeping THEM back??

Yeah because truckers in the US NEVER haul illegal loads. We're clean as a whistle.

Why was the FIRST thought about the driver that he may have RUN AWAY??

No idea, maybe somebody thought they saw him run off. Who knows.

Could it have been his HOS violation? Or his illegal driver's licence? Or just his lack of integrity to stay and face charges? (I'm not saying any of these are necessarily TRUE.)

Because we all know that NEVER happens in the US.

And is the lack of comment by the company involved (not Mexican, but operating from there) going to be the normal response by companies in Mexico IF and WHEN such an accident happens here in the U.S.???

Does Swift, Schneider or JB Hunt make comments on every single accident that their trucks have? I don't recall the company that owned that truck that destroyed that bridge in San Jose (or wherever) in California giving a press conference.

I think it is absolutely "relevant" to Americans to hear about such incidents involving Mexican trucking! Especially in light of what the DOT/IG was reported as having found out (on another thread) concerning the intentional mislabeling of violations in the border states.

A truck had an accident and exploded. That's not unusual. Whoopie f*cking do.

Or could it be that someone prefers (and you condone) HIDING this information from the American public?

Whose trying to hide anything?
:?

[golfhobo]

Still not sleeping well, Fozzy?

I sleep quite well, but I do not have little Mexican bogeymen to disrupt it like some around here...

No doubt! Like I told Redsfan, NO self-respecting illegal immigrant would REALLY want to live in Oklahoma! :wink:

Apparently, you think any concern over the Mexican Driver issue is "tiresome."

It is.. how many threads does this make now? I forget...

Hey, don't blame ME for the fact that there is no "sticky" on this!

Do you feel the same way about the issue of Chinese toys being covered in LEADED paint??

I do not care about the issue, there are a lot of people (us included) that lived in houses that had lead paint, breathed air that had leaded gasoline fumes in them, and we didn't feel like victims. The lead paint thing is also tiresome.

Oh, I agree with you on THAT one! And I'll throw in Secondhand cigarette smoke, too!

My point was about how worked up SOME Americans get over the least little "threat" to our health or way of life, yet don't care about yet ANOTHER outsourcing of jobs!

How about the lack of inspections of overseas containers entering our ports?

How about em? This has been going on since before I started hauling containers in the early eighties.. and it will still be going on when you and I and probably our children retire. inspecting every single container is just not possible and everyone here knows it.

Of course, that was BEFORE 9/11! So.... you are saying that Bush is LYING when he bases his Military budget proposals on the "perceived threat" from terrorists who are out to "get us?"

Surely there is no possible danger coming from any of these FOREIGN countries!

Maybe we should start banning rental trucks, some religions and books like the Turner diaries? This foreign issue sure didn't pop up over night and its not going anywhere anytime soon.

Same response, vis a vis the "fear mongering" utilized by YOUR duly "elected" (cough) President.

Oh.... but it's OKAY to keep Canadian pharmaceuticals away from Americans because they MIGHT be defective? (Even tho they were MADE here and can be "reshipped" from Canada at a savings?)

Another non issue.. there is no way that we can do this unless the government buys all the drugs and issues them to you. Are you for socialized medical coverage for everyone here? This will of course include all the illegals ya know.

Well.... the "illegals" are already flooding our emergency rooms getting FREE medical care. The jury is still out (with me, anyways) concerning socialized medicine, and it would be SIMPLE to "decriminalize" the importation of Canadian drugs by individual citizens (not to mention the government) if Bush wasn't lining his pockets with the gold offerings from the Pharmaceutical lobbies!

And to invade the privacy of Americans by spying on their internet and phone conversations because they MIGHT be terrorists?

Name one or shut up...

Ha Ha, that's funny! I started to post the link to the ACLU "class action suit" concerning this, but I KNEW you wouldn't understand the concept of keeping the names of those represented private! But, even YOU understand that a class action requires at LEAST three bonafide plaintiffs! So.... there ARE some, and I don't HAVE to "shut up!"

I got an idea! Why not put some of those WELL TRAINED Mexican soldiers in a foxhole with our troops, supposedly protecting OUR country from terrorists! I'm SURE they can do it as well as OUR military.... and think of all the American Military jobs we could eliminate!!

I've got another idea.. why not lay off the drugs that you are getting from Canada.. they seem to be tainted with something. Why do some people insist on having these fantasy arguments and points that are impossible do do anything about? Im sure tomorrow, you'll be absolutely livid that the sun came up.. and will of course demand that it be stopped..

Oh... it would be EASY to do something about them.... but first, we would need a President who is not on the take! And I don't fear the sunrise tomorrow, I'm only saddened by the fact that it once again will shine on an America dominated by a BUSH!!



_________________

[golfhobo]

Sorry, double post! Must have been my Alter Ego!!

[golfhobo]

I wonder how long it will take someone on this board to attach this incident to the mexican driver issue?

You just did. :wink:

Actually, the reporter who wrote the story did. Talk about grasping at straws.

I don't think it is "grasping at straws" one bit!

If NOT for its relevance to the Mexican Driver issue, it would have little newsworthiness to Americans.

And, it DOES point out a few concerns:

Was the load NOT marked as Hazardous Material?? Apparently, the police and reporters had NO warning to "Stay back!"

And is it SOP for Mexican officials (police) to be so STUPID as to not protect their citizens from danger by keeping THEM back??

Yeah because truckers in the US NEVER haul illegal loads. We're clean as a whistle.

Well, if they DID, it would be hard to haul a load of illegal Mexican immigrants from say... Kansas to Long Island! Only trucks coming out of MEXICO could haul such illegal "freight."

Why was the FIRST thought about the driver that he may have RUN AWAY??

No idea, maybe somebody thought they saw him run off. Who knows.

Maybe it's just a COMMON PRACTICE for Mexican drivers, and there was an eyewitness to it!

Could it have been his HOS violation? Or his illegal driver's licence? Or just his lack of integrity to stay and face charges? (I'm not saying any of these are necessarily TRUE.)

Because we all know that NEVER happens in the US.

Oh yeah, it happens quite OFTEN..... usually when the driver is an "illegal." MOST reports of accidents lately, involving American Drivers, indicate that the driver stuck around, co-operated with the police, and was CHARGED!

And is the lack of comment by the company involved (not Mexican, but operating from there) going to be the normal response by companies in Mexico IF and WHEN such an accident happens here in the U.S.???

Does Swift, Schneider or JB Hunt make comments on every single accident that their trucks have? I don't recall the company that owned that truck that destroyed that bridge in San Jose (or wherever) in California giving a press conference.

Ah.... but they DID!! And I suspect that all those companies you mentioned WOULD, indeed, make a public comment if one of their drivers caused an accident that killed 34 people!

I think it is absolutely "relevant" to Americans to hear about such incidents involving Mexican trucking! Especially in light of what the DOT/IG was reported as having found out (on another thread) concerning the intentional mislabeling of violations in the border states.

A truck had an accident and exploded. That's not unusual. Whoopie f*cking do.

No, it's not terribly unusual..... but it usually makes the FoxNews and CNN headlines! And, if it caused the death of 34 people..... it would be ALL they talked about for 3 days!

Or could it be that someone prefers (and you condone) HIDING this information from the American public?

Whose trying to hide anything?
:?
You accused the reporter of "grasping at straws." That indicates that you didn't believe it was newsworthy, and was only "sensationalized" because of the Mexican Driver issue. Had it not been for that issue, you indicated that you believed it should NOT have been reported.... or at least not linked to a viable issue. This equates to "sweeping it under the rug" which is tantamount to "hiding something."