Four adults were taken to a hospital Friday morning after lightning struck near the bus drop-off at El Mirage Elementary School in Arizona. First responders arrived just after 8:30 a.m., and officials say all four were conscious during transport and none were directly struck. El Mirage Fire Captain Joseph Rivera said one woman was holding an umbrella when lightning hit nearby and later reported pain in both arms.
A librarian at the library across the street described thunder and lightning landing almost simultaneously, loud enough that the building seemed to shake. The strike also triggered at least a dozen car alarms as the first round of Phoenix-area storms moved through.
For Suncoast families in the heart of storm season, the story is a practical reminder. Umbrellas don’t attract lightning strikes, but standing outside in the open while a storm sits overhead is a real risk. The safest move when thunder is audible is to head indoors and wait it out. Has your family ever had a close call with lightning during a school pickup or practice? Share your story on our Facebook page.
