Driver Dies in Explosion after Plowing into Home

By Mary Mitchell

Published on February 20, 2007

Police Officer Benjamin Henrich arrived at the scene that night within five minutes of the crash, and noted the strong odor of natural gas. The pickup truck had damaged a natural gas meter on the house and came to a stop about 6 feet inside the residence.

The gas explosion occurred as Henrich was trying to speak to the driver. Henrich was thrown about 20 feet by the blast, but received only minor burns and lacerations. The house was leveled by the explosion. A neighbor living across the street said that the home was engulfed in flames within minutes.

The driver, the only occupant of the truck, was identified as Lisa Villagin, who worked at a local bar and lived a block away from the crash site.

The explosion was felt throughout Prescott, a community of about 4,000 people near the Mississippi River.

The owners of the destroyed home, Sue and Randy Henrickson, also own a bar across the street from the bar where Villagin worked.

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