Witness describes moment lightning sets SUV on fire along Sanibel Causeway

A lightning strike during storms in Lee County ignited an SUV on the Sanibel Causeway, leaving the vehicle charred and the driver uninjured. In a 911 call Gulf Coast News received, the driver said, "I'm on the Sanibel Causeway, and my car is on fire." When asked what caused the fire, the driver responded, "It got hit by lightning." The incident occurred during rounds of storms, with radar pinpointing the exact strike location on the Sanibel Causeway. "I see a flash and a bang; it was pretty loud," said David Rogers, who saw the lightning strike while driving, and I look up, and there's black smoke." He continued driving and came across the burning SUV. "It was probably about, I don't know, maybe 5 or 6. Some cars just stopped there, and so these cars in front of me went around this car," Rogers said. The driver of the SUV called 911 after the strike, and dispatch advised them to leave the vehicle and move far away. Sanibel firefighters said this type of call is rare. "It's not something that we see every day. But again, out of 20 to 25 million lightning strikes in Florida alone, that carries a very small percentage of what we see," said John DiMaria, deputy chief of the Sanibel Fire & Rescue District. Many people believe cars are safe during storms. "Yeah, I mean, you always feel really safe in your car. I mean, obviously, I know you're driving, like, pretty much on the ocean, but you still feel safe in your car," said Anna Odom of Fort Myers. Firefighters agree that cars are generally safe, but the charred remains of the SUV serve as a reminder that anything can happen. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.