The Nation - News from Dec. 25, 1988

The propane truck that blew up and burned in Memphis, Tenn., after hitting a retaining wall on a downtown interstate, killing nine people, had passed an inspection just the day before, officials said. National Transportation Safety Board investigators picked over debris from Friday’s crash and also checked the records of the truck and driver, who was one of those who died in the crash. The driver had only minor violations on his record and was thoroughly familiar with the route, said NTSB member James E. Burnett. Eight of the dead were killed as a result of the blast and fire following the accident, including two people injured in their homes who died Saturday at a hospital. A ninth person died in a separate accident in the traffic jam that resulted from the crash, authorities said.