Paramedics and police were called to the Rimbank and Mines Avenue area near the San Gabriel River around 8:50 a.m. Pico Rivera city manager Steve Carmona says a woman was found dead on the trail with her two dogs. She was apparently struck by lightning as the storms were moving in Southern California in the morning. The city was warning locals to stay inside until the storm passed, Carmona said. “We all have to be careful with this activity in the area,” Carmona said. “We want everyone to be careful. There is a lot of instability in the air. Just be careful and do your best to stay indoors right now.” RELATED: Thunder and lightning strike as storm sweeps SoCal Lightning deaths are very rare in California. There have been only nine deaths in the state since 2006, and this was the first this year. The nation as a whole is seeing about six lightning deaths by June 22 in an average of one year. The news of the tragedy was worrying for the residents of the area. “I’m afraid,” said Mary Perez, who lives in the area. “I told my granddaughter and her friend, she does not go to school on foot, I take her. I think more about lightning. Not that I never thought about it. I did not think she could really do that. It ‘s just awful.” The identity of the 52-year-old has not been made known. Copyright © 2022 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
