Images from a police vehicle of the Mount Pleasant Police Department captured the moment when lightning struck an electric pole in South Carolina, causing the transformer to explode.
The incident occurred on Monday (11) during a storm on Highway 17 while drivers were stuck in traffic. The lightning struck the pole in the blink of an eye, sending a fireball down the road.
The video shows traffic lights and streetlights exploding after the intense electrical discharge. Several sparks fell on the drivers, but no one was injured.
“A bit too much excitement for a Monday!” the department wrote in the X post, formerly known as Twitter.
The damage caused by the lightning led to several intersections needing to be controlled by the police for “about three hours,” while crews worked to restore power, authorities reported.
A bit too much excitement for a Monday! The lightning strike caused our power outages and traffic delays. Fortunately, no one was injured, and @DominionEnergy responded quickly, restoring power and removing the downed wires. pic.twitter.com/PyieuiTG1K
— Mount Pleasant PD (@MountPleasantPD) August 11, 2025
Photos: X @MountPleasantPD. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
