Driver killed, 3 injured after chemical tanker explodes on Ouachita Co. highway

OUACHITA COUNTY (KATV) — UPDATE:

Arkansas State Police say the remains of the driver, suspected to be those of 63-year-old Randall McDougal of El Dorado, have been recovered from the site of the explosion.

The remains have been sent to the state crime lab for a positive identification.

McDougal was employed by Blann Trucking Company, police say.

According to the release, McDougal was driving the truck from El Dorado to Texarkana when it exploded. The Local fire department was informed around 6:40 a.m. that the truck brakes of the commercial carrier truck were on fire and the driver was attempting to extinguish the blaze.

Authorities say the fire department had begun to evacuate residents in the area and saw McDougal return to the truck when it exploded.

According to a post on the Camden Fire Department's Facebook page, three of their firefighters were on the scene at the time of the explosion. All three were taken to an area hospital as a precaution and have since been released.

The Department of Transportation says it will be at least Thursday afternoon before repairs to the roadway are completed. Drivers traveling in the area can take a detour using U.S. 79 or Arkansas 24.

The Camden Fire Department released this statement following the accident.

We have received numerous calls, texts, and messages from individuals concerned for our firefighters, as well as offers of assistance from a variety of agencies. We deeply appreciate the support our community – both near and far – shows for the Camden Fire Department.

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ORIGINAL:

The Ouachita Department of Emergency Management has confirmed one person is dead and two are injured after a tanker truck carrying ammonium nitrate exploded on Highway 278, just west of Camden.

Officials say the explosion occurred sometime around 7:00 Wednesday morning.

Melody Daniel with the Department of Emergency Management confirms the driver was the one killed in the accident. Two firefighters were also injured.

The Department of Transportation says Highway 278 will remain closed until further notice due to explosion which left a 15-foot deep crater in the road.

This is a developing story.