Fuel truck explodes, burns at Mack Alford Correctional Center; none injured
Ponca City Now - May 10, 2019 3:18 pm
A firefighter holds a firehose on the cab of a tanker truck that exploded just after noon Friday, May 10, 2019, at Mack Alford Correctional Center in Atoka. No one was injured in the explosion, which blew debris over on to U.S. 69 next to the medium-security prison for men.
STRINGTOWN, Okla. — A privately owned tanker truck delivering gasoline to Mack Alford Correctional Center exploded at a fueling station Friday on the medium-security prison’s grounds.
No one was injured in the explosion, which took place just after noon and blew debris onto the median of U.S. 69. The highway runs along the prison’s east side.
“It’s a blessing that no one was hurt in this accident,” ODOC Director Joe M. Allbaugh said. “This was a violent explosion.”
State authorities and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, including ODOC’s Director of Environmental Health and Safety, are investigating what led to the explosion.
No structures were put at risk by the resulting fire, which took place near Oklahoma Correctional Industries and destroyed the tanker truck.
Multiple local fire departments, emergency crews and law enforcement responded to extinguish the blaze and assist with the scene.
Staff were moved away from the area, as were inmates working at OCI.
MACC was home to 797 male inmates Friday morning.
