Investigators are trying to determine the cause of an explosion and house fire that claimed the life of a Sapa man last week. The explosion at 213 Priddy Drive was reported to Webster 911 at 5:45 p.m. June 16. Michael Allen Priddy, 74, died in the ensuing fire, Webster County Fire Coordinator Barry Rushing and Webster County Coroner Scott Dean confirmed. Priddy Drive is northeast of Sapa Baptist Church on the east side of North Sapa Road. Neighbor Brittney Lovelace said there were actually two explosions — the first of which shook her trailer across a pasture on the same road. She heard the second “kaboom” as she was running toward Priddy’s house. When she reached the burning mobile home with additions, Lovelace said she screamed for Priddy and found him still alive beside the stove in what was left of the kitchen. The floor had caved in under Priddy and he was trapped by kitchen cabinets that had fallen on him, according to Lovelace. She said he had one arm stuck through the rubble where the exterior wall had blown away and that he replied, “Brittney, I’m here, I’m here; help me.” “I grabbed his hand … and told him I’d be right back” after going for help, Lovelace related. Neighbor Charlie Williamson’s wife had immediately called 911 after hearing the first explosion and Williamson followed the smoke to the house, Lovelace said. After exclaiming to Williamson that he had to help her get Priddy out, Lovelace then ran back around to try and save him. However, she said that by the time she went from one corner of the house to where Priddy was, it was caught up in flames and the fire was too hot to get to him. Kayla Vaughan was second on the scene after Lovelace, whose husband also came home and “immediately flew over there.” The Mathiston Fire Department was the first unit on the scene but Lovelace said Priddy died before the fire truck arrived. Priddy’s wife, Gwen, was outside hanging up clothes when the house exploded, according to Lovelace and Rushing, who said she was not hurt. The Eupora Fire Department and North Mississippi Medical Center-Eupora EMS also responded. Mathiston FD returned to the scene about 10 that night after the fire rekindled. In addition to consuming the house, the fire also burned a shed and vehicles. Six deputy state fire marshals were there the next morning, along with Rushing. He said the cause of the explosion was still under investigation at the time. Dean said Priddy’s body was taken to the state Crime Lab for identification reasons and that the official cause of death had not been released to him as of Friday afternoon. “He’s been more of a grandfather to me,” Lovelace said of Priddy. “He was a very loving man and a well-known man.” Her mother and neighbor, Clovis Power, had known Priddy since 1986. “Webster County lost a fine Christian man last night,” she said the day after the fire. “He would give you the shirt off his back. It was like losing my brother.” A memorial service for Priddy will be scheduled at a later date, according to Oliver Funeral Home. An account has been set up at Bank of Kilmichael for Gwen Priddy, who lost everything in the fire. One may go by any bank branch and ask to donate to the “Priddy Benefit” account. Power said there was no house insurance and that anyone wanting to donate anything, such as clothes for Gwen Priddy, may drop them off at Power’s house (99 Priddy Drive) or contact her at 662-744-4414. Sizes are large shirts, blouses or slacks and size 8 shoes.
