By Frank C. Earl,
Okay then, you're probably asking
yourselves at this point, how can I be certain that it wasn't an
explosion as described in the story that damaged the truck? Well
let's go over the pictures a little closer. A blast front that
would have ripped up the roof like we're seeing in the pictures and
caving in the back seats like we're seeing in the pictures would have
done some real damage to the front seats with the rest of the damage
we're seeing. Note that the front seats are largely un-bent or
displaced from their locations. This was the thing that got me
starting to ask questions because it didn't jive with what I know about
explosives (don't ask...). Once I started questioning the premise
in general, I started seeing things that just didn't work with the
story- things that can't have an explosion as an explanation. As
an exhibit I offer picture number one to start with:
I have marked the area that sticks out
with a red marking around the offending area. Note that the cab's
frame is detatched from the roof at this location, and that the frame is bent downwards.
If this part was caused by an explosion, it would have been buckled away from the explosion, not towards it. Now, let's look
at the next picture in the progression offered:
In this picture, the warpage to the cab
frame is even more evident- let's look at this a little closer so you
can see it better.
The yellow line is the visible edge of the torn roof section in this picture. The red line is the line for the cab frame that is visible in this picture. You'll note that it's sloping down towards the left of the picture. That line should be almost horizontal or sloping upwards slightly if it was caused by an explosion. This would be strike one for that explosion theory.
Here's picture number 5 for your edification:
The yellow line is the visible edge of the torn roof section in this picture. The red line is the line for the cab frame that is visible in this picture. You'll note that it's sloping down towards the left of the picture. That line should be almost horizontal or sloping upwards slightly if it was caused by an explosion. This would be strike one for that explosion theory.
Here's picture number 5 for your edification:
When I looked at this the first time, I
didn't notice this- I still wonder why since it's like a thorn in your
side when you think about it. Looking at it, the area marked with
red is buckled downward and inward instead of upward and/or
outward. If you accept the claims of an explosion, it would be
bowed upwards and/or outwards from the epicenter of the blast, not the
way we see it. This is strike two for the explosion theory.
Finally, I offer the last picture:
In this picture, you can see that the cab frame member is indeed bowed inward, towards the epicenter of the alleged blast. Again, if you're talking an explosion, it would not be going towards the blast, but away from it. Strike three...
This doesn't get into the fact that while it's a fuel-air explosive, Oxy-Acetylene is a relatively low velocity explosive. It's slower than ANFO in velocity- meaning that it's less explosive than ANFO. ANFO is Ammonium Nitrate/Fuel Oil and is typically used for cratering charges to do things like remove stumps, etc. on a farm. It requires something to contain and focus the blast so it's effective. Oxy-Acetylene is no exception to this- most of the stories you hear about where people get really hurt messing with these things is when they're stupid and try to Darwinize themselves by accumulating a large quantity of Oxy-Acetylene (like a garbage bag full of it...) or into a semi-inelastic or inelastic container like a 2l soda bottle or a can or gas cylinder. Four regular or large sized baloons might be enough, but there's not really enough velocity present with the explosive in question to do much in the way of damage, especially if the door was open like it was surmised in the story.
Did it happen? I'm inclined to not think so. The story itself may be real, but the truck we've been shown isn't the truck described in the story. Can't be.
So, if it wasn't an explosion, what happened to this truck?
Finally, I offer the last picture:
In this picture, you can see that the cab frame member is indeed bowed inward, towards the epicenter of the alleged blast. Again, if you're talking an explosion, it would not be going towards the blast, but away from it. Strike three...
This doesn't get into the fact that while it's a fuel-air explosive, Oxy-Acetylene is a relatively low velocity explosive. It's slower than ANFO in velocity- meaning that it's less explosive than ANFO. ANFO is Ammonium Nitrate/Fuel Oil and is typically used for cratering charges to do things like remove stumps, etc. on a farm. It requires something to contain and focus the blast so it's effective. Oxy-Acetylene is no exception to this- most of the stories you hear about where people get really hurt messing with these things is when they're stupid and try to Darwinize themselves by accumulating a large quantity of Oxy-Acetylene (like a garbage bag full of it...) or into a semi-inelastic or inelastic container like a 2l soda bottle or a can or gas cylinder. Four regular or large sized baloons might be enough, but there's not really enough velocity present with the explosive in question to do much in the way of damage, especially if the door was open like it was surmised in the story.
Did it happen? I'm inclined to not think so. The story itself may be real, but the truck we've been shown isn't the truck described in the story. Can't be.
So, if it wasn't an explosion, what happened to this truck?
My WAG on this is that this truck had
something come through the top from the direction shown in the above
picture by the blue arrow. The impact against the back seat and
the buckling in the bed seem to indicate that something solid hit the
truck from the top at the angle shown by the arrow.