Vigil at Whitmore Lake High School Honors Lives Lost in House Explosion

Accident – death – Obituary News : Vigil Held at Whitmore Lake High School to Honor Lives Lost and Injured in Tragic House Explosion

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — On a Saturday evening, at precisely 3:33 p.m., the Whitmore Lake High School gymnasium was filled with approximately 100 people, holding up their phone flashlights. The gym was dimly lit with these lights, symbolizing the exact moment when a devastating house explosion occurred one week ago in Washtenaw County. The explosion tragically claimed the lives of four individuals and left two others injured.

The atmosphere in the gymnasium was somber, with some attendees visibly shaken and the sound of sniffling heard throughout the room. This vigil, organized to honor the family affected by the Northfield Township explosion, was held on Saturday, January 6th. The victims of the explosion were Hope Bragg, 51; Don Bragg, 53; Kenneth Bragg, 22; and Elizabeth Bragg, 19. Richard Pruden, the owner of the house and Hope Bragg’s father, is currently in critical condition, while Stephen Bragg, 16, is in stable condition.

Whitmore Lake Public Schools officials revealed that Hope Bragg was not only a graduate of Whitmore Lake High School but also the salutatorian of her class in 1991. During the vigil, Lisa Braggs-Hurlburt, Don Bragg’s sister, expressed her gratitude to those gathered, stating, “I’m so glad my brother and his family had this kind of reception in this world.” She described Don and Hope Bragg as adventurous individuals who always made time for others, emphasizing that “they never skipped visiting people.”

The vigil featured various speakers, including family members, Northfield Township Supervisor Ken Dignan, and a former professor of Hope and Don Bragg from Michigan Technological University. The couple attended this university, as indicated by their LinkedIn profiles. Terry Sharik, a research professor and emeritus dean of Michigan Technological University, spoke about the profound impact the Bragg family had on the academic community, saying, “A lot of people are mourning in the academic community.”

The explosion was reported to the police at around 3 p.m. on December 30th. Authorities received multiple reports of a large explosion in the 8000 block of Winters Lane. Upon arrival, three individuals were found dead in the home, while a fourth person succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Additionally, an injured cat was rescued from the wreckage. The Bragg family, originally from Arkansas, was visiting for the holiday season.

Hope Bragg worked as a 4H instructor in the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, while Don Bragg served as a project leader for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service research station. These details were obtained from directories of the respective organizations.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the explosion was caused by a fuel-air explosion, with no indications of foul play. Renee Toma, a resident living three houses down from the Pruden home, expressed the difficulty of comprehending the disaster and tragedy, stating, “It’s hard going by the site.” She also mentioned that Pruden was known for his beautiful garden.

The tight-knit neighborhood, consisting of five-acre lots, typically maintains a friendly but private atmosphere. However, the tragedy has brought the community closer together, with Toma noting, “It’s really pulled our neighborhood together and allowed us to see each other as people.” The support from the community has been overwhelming, she added.

Two GoFundMe campaigns have been launched to assist Richard Pruden and Stephen Bragg. The campaign for Pruden has raised nearly $24,000 of its $100,000 goal as of Saturday, with the funds intended for medical expenses. Pruden sustained severe burns in the explosion. The campaign for Stephen Bragg has raised over $54,000 as of Saturday, which will be used for funeral and medical expenses, as well as visits from long-distance family members.

Towards the end of the vigil, attendees were given the opportunity to write messages on memorials dedicated to each person. One message described Hope Bragg as a beautiful person, just like her name, while another remembered Elizabeth Bragg as “beautiful inside and out.”

Braggs-Hurlburt expressed her family’s gratitude for the support they have received from the community during this difficult time, stating, “When something like this happens, you realize what’s important in life, and what really matters is your family and friends.”

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