SMACKOVER, Ark. — One person was injured Friday morning following an explosion involving an oil delivery truck near Taylor Tire in Smackover, with the blast felt as far as a mile away, according to information credited to KTVE Television.

The explosion occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Good Friday when an oil delivery truck from Central Oil and Supply of Monroe arrived at Taylor Tire to make a delivery. Employees reportedly noticed smoke coming from the rear of the truck shortly after it pulled up. Flames were then seen coming from the vehicle before the explosion occurred.

Witnesses said James Wallace, a longtime Taylor Tire employee and volunteer firefighter, acted quickly to prevent further injuries. Wallace reportedly moved the burning truck away from the building, where people were inside at the time, placing himself at risk.

Officials said Wallace managed to exit the vehicle just in time but suffered burns to his arms. He was transported to a hospital for treatment. The driver of the delivery truck was able to escape without injury.

Advertisement

The force of the explosion was significant, with residents reporting the blast could be felt up to a mile away. Debris from the explosion was scattered throughout the surrounding area, including broken glass and damaged materials. A door handle from the blast was reportedly found in the yard of a nearby business, and several buildings and vehicles along the street sustained visible damage.

Emergency crews from the Smackover Volunteer Fire Department, along with local, county and state law enforcement agencies, responded quickly to the scene. The fire was extinguished in a short amount of time, though cleanup operations are expected to take considerably longer.

At the time responders were still working the scene, power and hazardous materials crews were arriving to begin cleanup efforts. Authorities reported that Highway 7 South in the area remains reduced to one lane of traffic as recovery operations continue.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been officially released, and the extent of the damage remains under assessment.

Advertisement

EL DORADO, AR – Arkansas State Police and emergency personnel are on scene at the intersection of Highway 167 South and Highway 82 dealing with an overturned vehicle. While details are still sparce, iDriveArkansas alerted motorists to a major slowdown in the area. There does appear to be an overturned truck that had been hauling a trailer with a service truck loaded as cargo. As always, authorities are notifying motorists to anticipate a slow down in that intersection until the scene is cleaned and on-site investigation is complete. As more details become available, we will pass them along at South Arkansas Now.

EL DORADO, Ark. — Rain chances are expected to return to South Arkansas beginning Thursday, with unsettled weather continuing into the upcoming Easter weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Shreveport.

Forecasters say a more storm-friendly pattern is developing across the Four State Region after an extended stretch of quieter conditions. This shift will bring increasing chances of rain starting Thursday and continuing through Saturday.

The National Weather Service indicates that the best chances for widespread rainfall will occur Thursday and again on Saturday, though the exact timing of individual rounds of rain remains uncertain. Meteorologists caution that details will become clearer as the system approaches later this week.

In addition to rainfall, strong to severe storms cannot be ruled out Saturday, as a stronger weather system moves into the region. Atmospheric conditions are expected to become more favorable for storm development, especially with moisture increasing across the area.

Advertisement

South Arkansas communities, including El Dorado, Magnolia, Camden and surrounding areas, are encouraged to monitor forecasts closely over the next several days. Officials emphasize that while rain is expected to return, the potential for severe weather Saturday will depend on how the system evolves.

Rain chances Thursday are expected to mark the first meaningful opportunity for precipitation in several days, with additional rounds of showers possible through the Easter weekend.

Residents are urged to stay weather-aware and keep up with updated forecasts, especially those with outdoor Easter weekend plans.

The National Weather Service will continue refining the forecast as confidence increases in the timing and severity of potential storms later this week.

Advertisement

EL DORADO, Ark. — South Arkansas Regional Hospital is moving forward with a construction project designed to improve MRI services for patients after receiving approval from the state and the Arkansas Department of Health.

Hospital officials say the project will allow the facility to replace its current MRI machine, which is more than 20 years old, with a newer model featuring updated technology. The hospital purchased the new MRI unit in December 2025 using hospital funds, not taxpayer money.

To complete the installation, crews must remove a section of the hospital’s exterior wall adjacent to Thompson Street in order to take out the old magnet and move the new machine into place. The construction has already begun.

Eric Waller, Executive Director of Facilities, said the upgraded MRI system is expected to increase capacity, shorten scan times and allow the hospital to perform certain scans it cannot currently offer.

Advertisement

“It’s going to allow us to do a few scans that we can’t do at this time and hopefully provide for a quicker turnaround for patients and a shorter wait time for them,” Waller said. “People are trying to find out what their treatment is going to be. Maybe they’re going to have to have some type of surgery. The longer they have to wait to get those scans, the longer they have to wait to plan for whatever treatments they might need.”

Waller said faster access to imaging can play a major role in helping patients and physicians make timely decisions about care.

Because of the construction and the presence of heavy equipment near Thompson Avenue, hospital officials are asking the public to avoid that area for the next few weeks if possible.

Waller said motorists can still access the hospital campus, but officials are encouraging visitors to use alternate entry points.

Advertisement

“We’d ask people to use our western entrance,” he said. “If they’re coming to campus, they can also come up Lester Street to enter through the front of the hospital, what we call the south entrance.”

Hospital leaders say the project reflects an investment in updated medical technology that will improve efficiency and help deliver faster care for patients across the region.

EL DORADO, AR – The search for a new Head Coach for the El Dorado Wildcat Football Program has come to an end. During the School Board Meeting Monday night, the Board announced that they have hired Brett Shockley from Ouachita Baptist University to fill that position.  

Shockley, a graduate of the University of Arkansas, has been at OBU since 2006. Most recently, he was the recruiting coordinator and coached both the offensive line and tight ends for the Tigers.  

During Ouachita’s seventh GAC championship season in 2024, Shockley coached two All-GAC selections, including Dylan Horton, who went on to earn All-America honors, and Isaiah Simpson, who was named the GAC Freshman of the Year.

In 2023, the Tiger offensive line helped Ouachita average 39.8 points per game, which ranked second in the GAC. The front line also helped the Tigers produce the conference’s second leading rusher. Four from Shockley’s 2023 squad earned All-GAC honors; Zac Henson, Dylan Horton, Nate Turner, and Garrison Jackson. Shockley’s units are known for dominating the line of scrimmage, having paved the way for nine 1,000-yard rushers and have averaged over 250 rushing yards per game since 2008.  

Advertisement

Shockley is a 2001 graduate of the University of Arkansas where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Agriculture Marketing. While there, he was a three-year letterman playing offensive line for the Razorbacks.  He participated in the 1999 Citrus, 2000 Cotton, & 2000 Vegas Bowl Games. 

He and his wife Leigh Anne have been married for 16 years. They have two children, Madison and Will.