Police: Choking Driver Caused New Mexico Wal-Mart Explosion

6:20 PM, Mar 22, 2013   |    comments
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
  • - A A A +

Deming, NM -- Police say man who choked on his food while driving caused a chain reaction that led to a fireball exploding over a Wal-Mart in southwestern New Mexico.

The Deming Headlight reports 61-year-old Robert Sheppard told police he was eating as he drove Saturday in front of the Wal-Mart Superstore in Deming and that he began to choke, causing him to lose control of his pickup truck.

According to police, the pickup, traveling at a "high rate of speed," struck a propane tank attached to a grill.
Witnesses reported seeing a massive fireball that extended over the roof of the store.

Police say three people were injured in the crash.

AP