A 16-year-old boy died after he was apparently struck by lightning while riding a bicycle in Pembroke Pines, police said.
The incident happened Wednesday in the area of Southwest 67th Avenue and Southwest 6th Street.
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Doorbell video showed the strength of the storm when whipping winds and heavy rain came through around 5 p.m.
Zandra Laguna, who lives in the neighborhood, said moments earlier she was outside and saw the teen across the street on his bike.
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That's when she saw and heard the loudest thunder and lightning she has ever heard in her life and quickly ran for cover.
"I thought I got hit for a second because it was so loud and it was like a flash and I realized that I was fine, so I ran inside, but I heard lightning before but never that loud," Laguna said. "No one thinks you’re gonna get hit like that let alone pass away from it."
Pembroke Pines Police officials said the teen was found lying in the grass in the area and was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
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Police said the preliminary information was that he was struck by lightning, and Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue officials said they were also waiting for confirmation it was a lightning strike but said the teen had burn wounds on his chest and inner thighs.
There was a hole in the pavement near where the teen was found that neighbors said hadn't been there before the storm.
The teen's name hasn't been released but officials at McArthur High School in Hollywood confirmed he was an 11th grader there.
"I offer my deepest condolences to the student's family and loved ones, teachers and classmates," Principal Mark Howard said in a message to families and staff. "He will be missed."
The message said grief counselors would be available on campus as long as necessary.
