Apr 11, 2006 By The 2 min read

HOPWOOD – A bolt of lightning that struck a pile of dirt in a Hopwood man’s yard sent a rock flying through the air, crashing through the roof of a vehicle parked in his driveway. William Fisher Jr. of 407 Kennedy Lane said he was in his garage when the lightning storm moved through the area around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Fisher said he was in his garage waiting out the storm when he heard a loud sound, which must have been the lightning bolt striking the dirt pile. After the storm passed, Fisher said he went outside to survey the damage and found a large rock – about 1 foot tall and 1 foot wide – inside his son’s girlfriend’s vehicle.

Fisher said the rock left a hole in the roof of the 1994 Ford Mustang, saying it “opened the car up like a can opener.”

When the lightning bolt hit the dirt pile, Fisher said it “threw rocks 150 feet in the air,” damaging several other vehicles within close proximity.

He said a neighbor’s vehicle was struck by rocks and had a broken windshield. Other vehicles were scratched, and Fisher said his van was dented.

Fisher said several firefighters responded to the scene.

A spokesman for the Hopwood Volunteer Fire Department confirmed the incident and said a utility pole also was struck with lightning during the storm.

Allegheny Power and North Union Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the scene.