Lightning strikes concert at Milan Dragway; 4 evaluated for injuries

MILAN TWP. — Four people were injured Saturday when they were struck by lightning while attending an event at Milan Dragway .

During a concert following the Mud Bash, a single lightning strike was reported, leading to multiple individuals being affected, the Milan Area Fire Department reported.

According to a Facebook post , the Milan Area Fire Department provided fire and EMS standby services at the Milan Dragway for the Mud Bash event. Firefighters and the dragway's safety team, immediately responded to the situation and evaluated four patients on site. Two of these patients were transported by Huron Valley Ambulance to the University of Michigan hospital for further treatment. They were released Sunday morning after being monitored overnight.

"This was a very scary situation that could have ended much worse," the post said. "We are thankful that there were no serious injuries!"

The Mud Bash featured mud-bogging an dirt-track drag racing as well as concerts Friday and Saturday.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , there were 444 deaths from lightning strikes from 2006-21 in the United States. Males are four times more likely than females to be struck by lightning, the average age of a person struck by lightning is 37 years, and about one-third of lightning injuries occur indoors.

A lightning strike can result in a cardiac arrest at the time of the injury, the National Weather Service says , although some victims may appear to have a delayed death a few days later if they are resuscitated but have suffered irreversible brain damage.

Only about 10% of people who are struck by lightning are killed, the weather service says, leaving 90% with various degrees of disability.

The odds of being struck by lightning in any given year is anytime 1 in 1,222,000, the weather service says. The odds of being struck within a lifespan of 80 years is 1 in 15,300.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Lightning strikes concert at Milan Dragway; 4 evaluated for injuries