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A Florida mom was waiting for her child at school when she was struck from the sky

A mother waiting for her child during a storm Thursday afternoon in North Florida was struck and killed by lightning.

According to the Winter Springs Police Department, the unnamed woman was near a tree at Trotwood Park at the time of the deadly tragedy. The park is near Keeth Elementary. Seminole County Public Schools identified her child as a student there.

“Shortly after the scheduled start of dismissal, a rapidly developing storm resulted in the immediate suspension of dismissal procedures,” the school district said on Twitter.

The mother’s other child, an infant, was with her and reportedly injured by the lightning strike.

The Seminole County Fire Department reports that crews responded to the area around 2:30 p.m. and took the woman and baby to the hospital, where the mother died.

“City staff extends our deepest condolences to the family and will keep them in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” the Winter Springs police posted.

School district officials said grief counselors would be on hand to provide support.

An unrelated 18-year-old in the same area was also injured but expected to recover. A dog was also affected, reports Fox 35 Orlando, and its condition is unknown.

Experts say that it appears that lightning struck a nearby tree, with the ground current striking the people.

READ MORE: Huge lightning bolt caught on Ring camera in Florida

According to John Jensenius of the National Lightning Safety Council, Thursday’s fatality is the 14th this year in the United States, and the second in Florida. The Sunshine State has seen 81 lightning strikes since 2006, including this recent one. Considered the “lightning capital of the country, Florida has seen more than 2,000 lightning injuries over the past 50 years.

Although the odds of being struck are slim (less than 1 in a million every year), there are ways to stay safe. The old saying, “When thunder roars, go indoors!” still stands true, the CDC reports.