A 33-year-old teacher from Toms River who works in the Manchester school district was struck by lightning today during this afternoon’s bout with “thundersnow” during the afternoon.
According to Manchester Police Capt. Todd Malland, the eighth grade teacher, whose name was not released publicly, works at the township’s middle school and was tending to bus duty outside of the building on Wednesday afternoon when she was struck.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. when school personnel were preparing for dismissal, Malland said.
“The teacher was standing on the sidewalk in front of the school with other staff members when the strike occurred,” he said. “After the incident, she was escorted into the school building by two other teachers and taken to the nurse’s office.”
Officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded, as did EMTs from the Manchester Volunteer First Aid Squad. Upon arrival, the teacher, who was alert and conscious but reporting tingling to her hand and arm, was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center, in Neptune for treatment.
Her injuries are not considered life-threatening, Malland said.