The Nation - News from June 30, 1985

Investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Oklahoma state fire marshal’s office said that the fireworks factory explosion that killed 21 persons at Hallett, Okla., on Tuesday was accidental and that they found no evidence of criminal negligence. Investigators have concluded that the blast began near a pickup truck that was being loaded at the Aerlex Corp. plant. Survivors’ testimony has indicated that containers were being scraped across the bed of the truck moments before the explosion. “It was a freak accident,” said Pawnee County Sheriff Leroy Bryant.