Press release
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.
A tanker truck is shown after it exploded and caught fire Friday, May 10, 2019, at Mack Alford Correctional Center in Atoka.
Crews respond to a tanker truck that exploded and burned just after noon on Friday, May 10, 2019, at Mack Alford Correctional Center in Atoka.
An unidentified official examines debris from Friday, May 10, 2019’s explosion of a tanker truck at Mack Alford Correctional Center in Atoka.
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