Sixteen people were hospitalized Tuesday evening following a lightning strike at the Grafton Correctional Institution in Ohio. One individual required airlift transport to a hospital. The incident occurred as incarcerated individuals were returning to their cells from their evening meal.
Officials confirmed that no deaths have been reported at the Lorain County facility. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) is continuing to assess the situation.
The lightning strike coincided with severe storms that have been impacting the Midwest and Ohio Valley regions. These storms have also led to widespread power outages, affecting more than 250,000 customers in Ohio alone. According to the FOX Forecast Center, a thunderstorm passed through Lorain County during the 5 p.m. hour, producing numerous lightning strikes.