An 8-year-old girl was fatally struck by lightning in LaSalle County on Friday evening during a storm, officials announced.
The girl was in the backyard of her home in Serena, Illinois, about 70 miles southwest of Chicago, Friday evening when it happened, the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office said. The coroner’s office was called to the emergency room of OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa for the incident.
An autopsy completed Sunday indicated she died from injuries related to the lightening strike, according to the coroner’s office.
Rain showers and thunderstorms were moving through the area at the time of the incident, according to the National Weather Service.
“If you’re outside during a thunderstorm, your chances for being struck go up significantly,” said Zachary Yack, a meteorologist with the weather service. “The old saying goes: when thunder roars, go indoors.”
The incident is under further investigation by the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office and the LaSalle County Sheriff’s office.