Man was stepping out of his vehicle when lightning killed him, SC officials say
A man died after being struck by lightning late Tuesday in Chester County during severe weather, officials said.
Sirmorio Deonron Davis, 32, died after lightning hit the ground and water in the Chester Homes area off York Road, Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker said. Davis was getting out of his vehicle outside his home around 9 p.m. when he was killed, Tinker said.
The tornado fatality was the first in 2020 in South Carolina, according to the National Lightning Safety Council. The last fatal lightning strike in the state was in July 2019, according to the lightning safety council.
Severe weather, including hail and high winds, hit the area late Tuesday as storms rolled through York, Chester and Lancaster counties.
Two tornadoes hit Chester and Lancaster counties during the storm, National Weather Service and emergency officials said. The tornadoes were confirmed in Chester near U.S. 321, and from Chester through Great Falls into Lancaster County, officials said.
Wind speeds topped 100 MPH in both tornadoes and there was property and tree damage, officials said.
About 600 people in Lancaster and Chester counties lost power after lines were brought down, according to Duke Energy,
This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 7:17 AM with the headline "Man was stepping out of his vehicle when lightning killed him, SC officials say."
