Lightning strikes tree, causing it to topple on vehicle in Altamonte Springs, officials say

Lightning strike topples tree onto truck, trapping man

A man is recovering in the hospital after a lightning strike brought down a tree that crashed onto his pickup truck Thursday evening, trapping him inside in what officials called a "miraculous" survival.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - Lightning likely struck a tree, causing it to fall on a vehicle in an Altamonte Springs neighborhood on Thursday afternoon, as strong thunderstorms moved through the area, according to Seminole County Fire Rescue.

What we know:

A man remains hospitalized after being trapped in his pickup truck when a lightning strike brought down a tree on Thursday evening in Seminole County. 

The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. near East Orange Street and Virginia Avenue in Altamonte Springs. The man, an employee of a lawn care company, was sitting inside the vehicle when the tree crashed down, pinning him beneath heavy branches and debris.

First responders used specialized tools to remove the doors and dismantle parts of the truck to free the victim. Fire officials described the incident as a "miraculous" survival, given the extent of the damage.

What we don't know:

The identity of the injured man has not been released. Authorities have not disclosed the extent of his injuries or how long he is expected to remain hospitalized. It is also unclear if the lightning strike caused any additional damage in the area.

The backstory:

Crews had been trimming trees nearby in preparation for storm activity, trying to prevent the kind of damage that occurred. Just hours before the incident, workers had been clearing branches that could fall in the event of severe weather — a precaution that became reality when lightning struck.

Local perspective:

Neighbors said the storm came in fast, with a sudden clap of thunder followed by the sounds of emergency vehicles. One man said he rushed to the scene and saw fire crews cutting the truck apart to reach the driver. 

FOX 35 cameras captured the clean-up underway with crews cutting the tree into chunks and hauling away the debris.