Lula, OK – An 86-year-old Lula resident was injured when her house exploded Tuesday morning.
Authorities believe a propane leak caused the blast. Resident Jean Wofford suffered a broken hip and received staples to the back of her head.
A relative of Wofford went to check on her after she didn’t answer her phone just before dawn. When he arrived in the dark, he thought the house had been hit by a tornado and called 911.
Lula Volunteer Fire Chief Kim Johnson said Wofford was in the bedroom and was trapped. Firefighters had to remove debris to get to her. She was placed on a backboard and taken from the house through a large hole in the wall, caused by the explosion.
Wofford’s relative said a section of roof that had fallen landed on her bedpost, which kept the roof from crushing her in her bed.
Wofford was taken by Mercy EMS to Mercy Hospital Ada.
A spokesperson for Mercy said Wofford was in good condition Tuesday afternoon. Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Hurley said it appeared the propane leaked under the house. He said the force of the explosion blew a large hole in the floor, which buckled and was raised to about eye-level.