KENT COUNTY, MI -- Dawn Mervau was headed for an ordinary day of shopping with family when the extraordinary struck.
The Lowell woman was driving west on M-6 this morning, near Hannah Lake Avenue on her way to Rivertown Crossings Mall with her son, when her sport utility vehicle was struck by lightning.
The lightning struck the passenger side front panel of Mervau’s car.
RELATED: Car struck by lightning on M-6 near Hannah Lake Avenue
“I saw the flash and heard the explosion,” she said. “The side curtain airbag released, the car stalled. Thankfully, I was able to get the car off to the side of the road, but I realized I couldn’t get out of my car. I know what an electrical fire was. I could smell it.”
Mervau said she called her husband to see if he could come pick her up. She then called 9-1-1. Dispatchers told her to get out of the car as soon as possible.
But with power windows and locks, Mervau became nervous as she tried to find an escape plan.
“The driver door window -- I kicked out with my foot and I got my son out and got away from the car and the fire trucks came,” Mervau said.
A good Samaritan named Ted came by almost a minute after Mervau and her son’s escape from the vehicle and let the pair sit in his car to wait for rescue workers.
Nearly .6 inches of rain fell during the Tuesday-morning thunderstorm, a National Weather Service meteorologist said.
Her 4-year-old son was relatively panicked, but mostly because he saw her reaction to the lightning strike.
“I tried to stay calm, but I was pretty worked up because I couldn’t get out of my car,” she said. “I didn’t think too much. I just did it. I didn’t want to see flames. I know how fast a car can burn.”
The National Weather Service said that vehicles are a safe place to be, but recommends staying in a:
Unsafe vehicles include convertibles, golf carts, riding mowers, open cab construction, equipment and boats without cabins.
AccuWeather.com reports that a vehicle is safe, not because of tires, as popularly thought, but because the metal conducts the charge of the lightning around the metal exterior of the car into the ground.
“I didn’t realize how uncommon it was,” Mervau said. “I was always told if you’re in a vehicle, you won’t be struck due to the rubber wheels. I know that’s what saved my life.”
Her car is in the repair shop, and an insurance adjustor will examine the vehicle Wednesday.
Her mother and sister-in-law picked her up and she said they were all grateful things weren’t worse.
“We thank God, it wasn’t our day to ,,,” she said, her voice trailing off. “I was pretty shook up.”
A few hours after the incident, she said she felt better.
“I’ve had some time to digest it,” she said. “You gotta love Mother Nature. It could’ve been a lot worse. If it had been back further, it could have shattered the window and hit (my son). I’m pretty sure lightning can go through windows. Thank God, I’m just thankful it turned out OK.”
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