Illinois Pizzeria Manager Disputes Lightning Strike Reports

PAXTON, IL — Despite several media and police reports saying city officials reported a person was struck by lightning outside of Monical's Pizza on West Ottawa Road Monday night, the spot's manager wants to clarify the reports he described as inaccurate. Ford County Record reported Monical’s Pizza manager Jason Mills called the news source Tuesday stating no one was struck by lightning near his restaurant, but that a nearby lightning strike caused a person to have a “slight tingle in his arm” when they touched the restaurant door.

The Ford County Record said according to Mills, the strike — which he then described to the news source nearby — most likely hit something, perhaps a pole, damaging the inside the restaurant as a result. According to the news report, Mills added that they called an ambulance to get the person checked out, and that they were able to go home from the hospital that night.

However, in addition to The News-Gazette, Ford County Record and several other media outlets reporting Tuesday that city officials said a person was struck by lightning, Paxton’s Emergency Management Agency Director Ed Hanson told The News-Gazette he didn't believe the person had to be taken to the hospital.

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