On Saturday, December 30, 2023, the city of Monticello, and the citizens of Drew County suffered a tragic loss. While visiting family in Northfield Township, Mich., Don, Hope, Kenneth, and Elizabeth Bragg lost their lives in a devastating house explosion. The home belonged to Richard Pruden, Hope’s father.
Pruden survived the blast along with the Bragg’s other son, Stephen. Both Pruden and Stephen are hospitalized with serious injuries. As of the last reports, Pruden is in a coma with burns covering approximately 20 percent of his body. Stephen has a broken pelvis and a lacerated liver.
Throughout the ordeal, the outpouring of love for the family has been nothing short of amazing. Sandra Lanehart, Superintendent of Monticello Schools, released the following statement in regards to the situation:
“The Monticello School District is saddened over the tragedy suffered by MHS student, Stephen Bragg and his family. Steven’s parents, Hope and Don Bragg, their son Kenny and daughter Elizabeth were killed in a house explosion in Michigan at Stephen’s grandfather's home. Stephen is injured (a broken pelvis and lacerated liver) and is hospitalized. Hope's father, Mr. Purden, is in a coma. He has burns on 20 percent of his body. Please pray for Stephen and for the Bragg family, friends, coworkers and classmates. Don was a professor at UAM. Hope was a County Extension Agent. This devastating loss for our school district, UAM and Drew County. Please join the Billie Nation in prayer for Stephen and his family.”
Stephen is currently enrolled in Monticello Schools.
The Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (CFANR) at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Dr. Michael Blazier had the following to say about the family:
“The Bragg family were all intelligent, hard-working, accomplished, kind, and helping of others. From his office in our forestry building, Don guided southern pine research throughout the Southeast for the Southern Research Station of the USDA Forest Service. Hope was one of the top 4-H educators of Arkansas, based in our agriculture building. Hope was a 4-H STEM Instructor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and in that role she guided and assisted county agents all over the state in their 4-H programs. Don and Hope were wonderful parents, and they instilled in their sons and daughter their passions for nature, science, archeology, music, and arts. You didn’t have to know them long to see how much love and support they had for each other. They were always welcoming to our faculty, students, and staff into the community, and they will be missed greatly. Our college, state, and beyond were made better from the Bragg family, and we must honor them by serving the values of nature, education, family, and community they held so dear.”
The incident is currently under investigation, but authorities in Michigan say that foul play is not suspected. The suspected cause is being termed as “an undetermined fuel-air explosion.
As more details become available, the staff at the Advance will do our best to keep the citizens of Monticello and Drew County up to date. There are gofundme accounts set up for both Stephen Bragg and Pruden to help with medical expenses.
