Lightning strike injures four at school

Four adults were hospitalized following a lightning strike at El Mirage Elementary School in Arizona. El Mirage Police reported that all four individuals were conscious when transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The incident occurred during the morning bus drop-off period.

Fast-moving storms began affecting the Phoenix area around 8 a.m. on Friday. Residents in nearby communities including Peoria, Sun City, and Buckeye reported heavy rain and hail. The storm system marked the first major weather event of the morning for the region.

First responders arrived at the school just after 8:30 a.m. upon receiving reports of the strike. El Mirage Fire Captain Joseph Rivera stated that no one was struck directly by the bolt. He noted that one woman was holding an umbrella at the time and reported pain in both of her arms.

Carrie, a librarian at the El Mirage Library located across the street, was performing her morning duties when the event occurred. She described the thunder and lightning as simultaneous and extremely loud. "It felt like the building almost shook," she said. Following the strike, she observed a wave of car alarms activating across the street, estimating at least a dozen vehicles sounded their alerts.

The immediate weather pattern included intense rainfall following the initial strike. Carrie noted that rain began falling heavily immediately after the car alarms triggered. The four injured adults remain in care at the local hospital.