4 dead, 2 hurt in house explosion near Detroit, police say
WHITMORE LAKE, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) — Four people were killed and two others injured in a massive house explosion Saturday afternoon in the community of Northfield Township near Detroit, authorities said.
Northfield Township Police and Michigan State Police responded to a report of an explosion at a single-family home in a rural area of the Whitmore Lake neighborhood at around 4 p.m. Saturday. Northfield Township is located about 45 miles west of Detroit.
The explosion happened on Winters Lane and could be heard in Jackson, according to Northfield Township police Lt. Dave Powell. Debris was also found on the other side of US-23.
No nearby homes were damaged, Powell said.
On Tuesday, Jan. 2, authorities identified the homeowner as 72-year-old Richard Pruden.
Pruden's daughter, Hope Bragg, 51, as well as her husband, Don Bragg, 53, their son, Kenneth Bragg, 22, and daughter, Elizabeth Bragg, 19, died in the explosion.
Police say Pruden is in critical condition. The family's youngest child, 16-year-old Stephen Bragg, is in stable condition.
Authorities say the Bragg family were visiting from Arkansas for the holidays.
A video posted to social media by Nate Mark captured parts of the explosion.
Explosion in Whitmore Lake, Michigan pic.twitter.com/0c9WfCUoOs
— Nate Mark (@NateMark456313) December 30, 2023
Police say a preliminary investigation indicates that the cause of the blast was a fuel explosion. No foul play is suspected.
"The investigation is still ongoing. I can say preliminarily, and it's subject to change pending further analysis of the evidence and interviews, that we have an undetermined fuel-air explosion. We do not expect foul play at this time," said Northfield Township Lt. Dave Powell.
Natural gas company DTE Energy responded to ensure the scene was safe, as did local fire and hazmat crews.
Power was also shut off to the area, Powell said.