Construction contractor Casey Pettus reported the incident occurred around 12:30 on 29/7. He was traveling from St. George to Cedar City to submit a bid for a home renovation project. During a heavy downpour, his vehicle was suddenly struck by a powerful jolt.
"I didn't feel like I hit anything; the entire car just shuddered with a large flash", Pettus recounted. "Everything happened so fast; it took one to two seconds for me to process what had just occurred. The electrical current seemed to pass through the vehicle and through me. The jolt was so strong that the pressure pinned me to my seat. It was then I realized my car had been struck by lightning."
The direct lightning strike disabled the entire electrical system, causing the engine to shut down abruptly. Pettus had to muster all his strength to grip the steering wheel, guiding the vehicle safely to the roadside.
"I managed to pull over and looked at the drivers behind me. They drove past, gaping in shock", he recalled.
Noticing light smoke beginning to fill the cabin, Pettus quickly grabbed his phone and wallet before exiting the vehicle. Within 5 minutes of him stepping out, flames engulfed the entire truck.
"Oh my God, my truck. The entire vehicle is engulfed in flames", Pettus exclaimed in the video he recorded at the scene with his phone.
Misfortune continued as, not long before, Pettus had discovered a flat and leaking rear tire on the driver's side. He had hoped to make it to the nearest exit in Cedar City for a repair when this rare incident occurred. "I still can't believe this happened to me", Pettus stated.
Authorities were also surprised by the intensity of the fire. Pettus reported the truck was completely destroyed in less than 20 minutes.
Sergeant Justin Faust of the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) stated: "The scene at that moment was extremely unusual." Faust added that the dispatcher initially reported it as a routine car fire, without mentioning a lightning strike as the cause.
"In my entire career, this is only the second time I've handled a car struck by lightning. This is an extremely rare occurrence", Faust remarked. "In the previous incident, the lightning strike only damaged the entire electrical system, without causing a fire. This time, it was truly unpredictable."
A UHP representative also acknowledged that the unit typically issues more advisories on driving safety during rain and flooded roads than on how to react to a lightning strike.
"If drivers detect a thunderstorm ahead, they can proactively stop their vehicle under overpasses or seek safe shelter. Nature's unpredictability is always our greatest concern", Faust advised.
Pettus is currently working with his insurance company to process compensation. All his work tools stored in the cabin were destroyed by the fire.
"Throughout the ordeal, I remained quite calm but felt utterly helpless. The truck started burning from the inside; there was truly nothing else you could do", Pettus said, expressing his shock yet pride at having survived. "It's truly insane. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to be safe and sound."
My Anh (according to KSL)
