Teen struck by lightning in NYC's Central Park
A 15-year-old boy was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm in Manhattan on Thursday.
It happened at around 3:30 p.m. in Central Park along the East Drive near East 100th Street, the FDNY said.
Police say officers found the boy conscious, sitting up against a mesh fence. Sources say he was standing under a tree when both he and the tree were struck.
He was then taken to Columbia University Irving Medical Center and is in stable condition, sources said. Police said he had injuries to his neck.
The lightning strike happened while New York City was under a severe thunderstorm warning as powerful storms rolled through the area.
The First Alert Weather Team had declared a First Alert Weather Day Thursday due to the powerful storms. Click here for the latest storm warnings, watches and alerts.
According to the National Weather Service, lightning strikes kill about 20 people in the U.S. each year and injure hundreds more. For lightning safety tips from the National Weather Service, .
Storm caught many in New York City off guard
All over Manhattan and Brooklyn the relentless rain forced drivers to carefully maneuver through flooded streets.
The fast-moving storm left a mess to clean up in Maspeth, Queens.
"I came from work and I was tired and all I see is a tree on my mom's car," resident Jose Rosas said.
Sidewalks were covered with uprooted trees, including one that crushed the rear window of a car. Not far away, a pole was toppled over.
Neighbors said they heard the storm move through.
"The lights started flickering like a horror film and then one of the tree branches fell and the roots came out and crushed the truck our of our window," Konrad Turnbull said.
Turnbull, who works from home, said he eventually lost power.
"It's going to be a few days. I guess we will have to work elsewhere," he said.
