Nothing ruins a family outing like car trouble. We’ve all been in a situation where we hear a loud bang that sounds expensive and try to keep going. When a family in Illinois heard a loud boom, they thought their SUV was shot. However, the truth was much worse. 

Illinois family thought their SUV was shot

It was a normal day for a family in Illinois as they ran errands in their SUV. They were riding along Route 13 when they suddenly heard a loud bang. 

Their father immediately called the police to report that they heard a loud gunshot type of noise. They thought that someone shot into their Ford Edge SUV. 

Then the interior started filling with smoke as electronics flashed. The family immediately pulled over to see smoke coming from the roof. Also, debris scattered across all lanes of traffic. 

Police officers quickly arrived and concluded that the Ford SUV was struck by lightning. The lightning bolt hit the back of the roof, and ignited the electrical system. This caused a powerful explosion that blew the rear bumper and exhaust system off. 

According to Daily Mail, there was a visible hole in the roof. Luckily, no one was injured but hopefully the Ford Edge can be repaired. It was towed away from the scene. 

Cars can become inoperable due to being struck by lightning. Damage to the windshield, electrical system, tires, and panels may occur. While millions of cars are struck by lightning each year, it’s still a fairly rare occurrence.