September 10, 2007: Mexico dynamite truck explosion kills 34
PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico - Authorities now say at least 34 people were killed and more than 150 others injured by a fiery explosion in Mexico.
A dynamite-laden truck collided with another vehicle on a busy highway in northern Mexico's coal country Sunday night. As a crowd of police, soldiers, onlookers and reporters gathered, the truck exploded -- leaving behind a 10-by-40-foot crater in a concrete roadway.
The explosion raised further questions about the safety of Mexican trucks.
This weekend, Mexico began sending its first tractor-trailers across U.S. territory under a long-delayed, NAFTA-mandated program. Mexican trucks previously were limited to 25-mile zone along the border.
Opponents fought the change, claiming that Mexican trucks are unsafe.
One police official said the truck involved in last night's explosion did not appear to be headed for the U.S.
From the Associated Press
The following conversation was overheard on the CB just before the truck driver crashed.
DRIVER: ¿Compañeros, qué te desearías habías
hecho antes de que murieras?
VOICE #1: Pintar un self-portrait.
VOICE #2: Construir una casa.
DRIVER: ¿Y tú?
VOICE #3: No sé. ¡Ahora dar vuelta a la rueda, adelantarte!
DRIVER: ¡Tienes que saber la respuesta a esta pregunta! ¿Si murieras
ahora, cómo te sentirías sobre tu vida?
VOICE #3: No sé. ¿No sentiría cualquier cosa bueno sobre
mi vida, soy que qué deseas oírme decir? Muy bien. ¡Adelantado!
DRIVER: No bueno bastante.
The conversation has been translated to English for your convenience.
DRIVER: Guys, what would you wish you'd done before you died?
VOICE #1: Paint a self-portrait.
VOICE #2: Build a house.
DRIVER: And you?
VOICE #3: I don't know. Turn the wheel now, come on!
DRIVER: You have to know the answer to this question! If you died right now,
how would you feel about your life?
VOICE #3: I don't know. I wouldn't feel anything good about my life, is that
what you want to hear me say? Fine. Come on!
DRIVER: Not good enough.