Lightning Strikes Road In Harrison Monday Evening

A powerful lightning strike on Stoney River Drive in Harrison tore up the pavement and made the street temporarily undrivable Monday evening.

HCSO Deputies’ Jason Smith and Kevin Ritchey responded after residents reported that lightning had struck a residential roadway.
 
Upon arrival, deputies discovered the road had indeed been struck by lightning and noted that due to the damage, it was not passable by vehicles. Residents in the community were also amazed at the sheer power and damage caused by the violent act of nature.

“We were both truly astonished by the destruction to the roadway that was caused by this bolt of lightning,” said Deputy Kevin Ritchey. “It was definitely a first for both of us.”
 
Deputies immediately notified the Hamilton County Highway Department and secured the damaged roadway until crews arrived to prevent motorists from damaging their cars.
 
Lightning strikes to roads are rare, but do happen. According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), one lightning bolt can produce 100 million to 1 billion volts and contains billions of watts. More interesting facts about lightning can be found at its website at http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/lightning/faq/