FORT MYERS, Fla. – A 26-year-old pregnant woman was taken to a hospital Thursday after being struck by lightning in Fort Myers.
According to a News-Press report, Fort Myers police Lt. Jay Rodriguez said the woman was hospitalized after being struck by lightning Thursday afternoon on a street in a gated community.
The woman's name was not released.
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She remained hospitalized Friday in critical condition.
Tampa-based National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew McKaughan said storms had dropped almost an inch of rain over Lee County by Thursday evening. He said anyone who hears thunder is close enough to a thunderstorm to be struck by lightning.
According to McKaughan, there have been three fatal lightning strikes in the U.S. so far this year, including two in Florida.
A construction worker died earlier this week after he was struck by lightning in Pembroke Pines.
The incident was reported at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at 103rd Avenue and Pines Boulevard, where construction is underway for a massive city center, complete with restaurants, retail stores and a new city hall.
Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue spokesman Ruben Troncoso said the man, who was in his 30s, was possibly directly struck by lightning and went into cardiac arrest.
He said the unconscious man was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, where he was originally listed in serious condition.
He died later at the hospital, authorities said.
Another man, who was not directly struck by lightning, was also taken to Memorial Regional Hospital.
Authorities said the man complained about numbness to his body.