An automobile crossed over the centerline of a two-lane highway and collided with a tractor-semitrailer transporting a 25,414-pound cargo of explosives. The automobile driver was killed in the collision, and fire broke out immediately. The cargo exploded. Two firemen, a wrecker driver, and two bystanders died as a result of the explosion. Thirty-three people were injured, and property damage was estimated in excess of one million dollars. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was that the automobile crossed over into the opposing lane of traffic and collided with the oncoming tractor-semitrailer. Contributing causes are discussed.
Highway Accident Report. Automobile-Truck Collision Followed by Fire and Explosion of Dynamite Cargo on U.S. Highway 78, Near Waco, Georgia on June 4, 1971
1972
36 pages
Report
No indication
English
Transportation Safety , Motor vehicle accidents , Accident investigations , Passenger vehicles , Trucks , Cargo vehicles , Explosives , Fires , Explosions , Detonation , Dynamite , Death , Injuries , Georgia , Dynamite cargo , Automobile truck collisions , Head on collisions , Diesel fuel tanks , U.S. Highway 78 , Waco(Georgia)