WATER VALLEY – The investigation into the June 15 natural gas explosion on Thornton Street remains active, although Water Valley Fire Chief Mark McGavock said investigators have determined the blast was accidental.
McGavock said the exact cause of the explosion has not been determined, and the point of origin remains under investigation.
McGavock said the Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office remains the lead investigative agency, while Delta Utilities and Shelter Insurance are conducting independent examinations of the scene. Investigators have continued returning to the property in recent days, collecting soil samples and examining the area around the destroyed residence as they work to determine the cause of the explosion.
“They want to be sure,” McGavock said.
The explosion destroyed a residence at 827-B Thornton St., killing Martha Pritchard, 53, and injuring another occupant. The blast also damaged nearby homes and utility infrastructure, and was heard across much of Water Valley.
