Names released of 4 family members killed in Michigan house explosion
"It sounded like something I remember from war," a neighbor said.
Authorities released the names of the four victims of a rural Michigan house blast that officials said Tuesday was likely caused by a "fuel-air explosion."
The blast unfolded around 4 p.m. Saturday in Whitmore Lake near Northfield Township, about 14 miles north of Ann Arbor, and completely leveled a home, leaving just its foundation surrounded by splintered wood and other blast debris, Lt. David Powell of the Northfield Township Police Department said at a news conference on Tuesday.
Those killed were identified as 51-year-old Hope Bragg, her husband, Don Bragg, 53, and two of their children, 22-year-old Kenneth Bragg and 19-year-old Elizabeth Bragg, according to Powell.
Powell said the deceased family members were visiting Don Bragg's 72-year-old father, Richard Bragg, when the explosion occurred.
Richard Bragg, the owner of the house, remained in a hospital Tuesday in critical condition, Powell said. Don and Hope Bragg's youngest child, 16-year-old Steven Bragg, was also hospitalized with critical injuries, Powell said.
The preliminary investigation found that an "undetermined fuel-air explosion" leveled the home, according to Powell, who added that testing is still underway to determine if a propane or natural gas leak caused the disaster.
"We do not suspect any foul play at this time," Powell said.
Residents nine miles away reported hearing the blast. Powell said debris from the blast traveled as far away as a mile.
"It sounded like something I remember from war. It was that loud," Scott McMillian, a 40-year resident of Whitmore Lake who lives about a mile from the explosion, told Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ. "Even in war, I have never heard of anything of this level at this distance."
McMillian said he found debris from the explosion in his yard. Some residents posted videos on social media of a cloud of smoke and debris in the sky.
Powell said the house sat on a five-acre lot and that two of the acres were covered in blast debris.
"The concrete basement walls are even crumbled in," Powell said.
Powell said homes in the area of the explosion were not damaged.
McMillian told WXYZ he dove for cover when he heard the blast.
"I went facedown on the ground and covered the back of my head, and the whole house shook," McMillian said. "It was scary."
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