Hoosier_Vol
VFL Stuck in B1G Hell
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51 years ago today, September 30, 1970, at approximately 1:20AM, truck driver John A. Galt, aged 48, of Oklahoma City, OK lost his life when the tractor trailer semi truck he had been driving was vaporized in an utterly massive explosion.
Galt, who was making his first trip for Tri State Motor Transit (TSMT) out of Joplin, MO, was killed when a sniper’s bullet, fired at the truck, ignited the load of 42,800lbs. of Gelex #1 dynamite.
This incident occurred in the East bound lanes of I-44 just west of Springfield, MO at the Republic, MO exit. The exact spot is just East of the 66.8 mile marker.
Windows were blown out of stores and buildings 12 miles away in downtown Springfield. The explosion left a hole in the interstate roadbed 50 feet wide, 70 feet long, and 30 feet deep. People reported at the time hearing and feeling the concussion as distant as 50 miles away.
Almost nothing of the truck was recovered. One internet source claims the engine block and engine flywheel were all that was found. Reports of driver remains are unreliable, and we didn’t feel that it would add dignity to this post to access medical examiner or coroner’s records. Since the load of dynamite was carried above the chassis of the truck and trailer, the drivetrain of the truck was likely buried deep into the crater by the force of the blast.
A permanent memorial of sorts remains to Mr. Galt this very day. As you drive over the spot, the interstate highway has a slight depression where the hole was since the fill has settled somewhat over the years.
Galt, who was making his first trip for Tri State Motor Transit (TSMT) out of Joplin, MO, was killed when a sniper’s bullet, fired at the truck, ignited the load of 42,800lbs. of Gelex #1 dynamite.
This incident occurred in the East bound lanes of I-44 just west of Springfield, MO at the Republic, MO exit. The exact spot is just East of the 66.8 mile marker.
Windows were blown out of stores and buildings 12 miles away in downtown Springfield. The explosion left a hole in the interstate roadbed 50 feet wide, 70 feet long, and 30 feet deep. People reported at the time hearing and feeling the concussion as distant as 50 miles away.
Almost nothing of the truck was recovered. One internet source claims the engine block and engine flywheel were all that was found. Reports of driver remains are unreliable, and we didn’t feel that it would add dignity to this post to access medical examiner or coroner’s records. Since the load of dynamite was carried above the chassis of the truck and trailer, the drivetrain of the truck was likely buried deep into the crater by the force of the blast.
A permanent memorial of sorts remains to Mr. Galt this very day. As you drive over the spot, the interstate highway has a slight depression where the hole was since the fill has settled somewhat over the years.
