PHOTOS: Lightning Strike on Mechanic Street Sends Woman to Hospital

An elderly woman was taken to the hospital Friday for "precautionary reasons" after lightning struck a tree behind her home at 232 Mechanic St. around 4 p.m., according to Foxborough Fire Chief Roger Hatfield.

"We got a report of a lightning strike on Hill Street and Mechanic Street at the same time," Hatfield said. "There was minor outside damage at Hill Street and extreme damage on the outside of Mechanic Street with unknown damage inside. ... We will have the electrical examiner inspect the interior and see if there’s any damage to the property’s electrical system."

Foxborough Fire received a call from a woman reporting the smell of a smoke after lightning struck her property just after 4 p.m. and police and fire units responded to the scene. When they arrived, they couldn't believe what they saw.

"Amazing, I've never seen anything like this," Hatfield said. "Basically, [lightning] hit the tree and uprooted that tree completely. It then came underneath [the ground] and charged the house. It went up the house along the gutter."

A second bolt struck a neighbor's umbrella in the yard, blowing up a picnic table, according to Hatfield.

The elderly woman who lives at 232 Mechanic St. was "shooken up pretty well," Hatfield said and was taken by ambulance to a hospital for "precautionary reasons." He added there was no fire despite the smell of smoke.

"Our guys checked her out and brought her to a hospital to be checked out," Hatfield said.

Significant damage was done to the yard and back deck of the house as well as the gutters. View the photo gallery above for scenes of the damage. Part of the tree that was struck travelled roughly 200 yards from the rear of the property to the sidewalk near Mechanic Street.

What Readers are Saying About the Incident

Foxborough Patch was on scene providing updates on its Facebook page. Below are some of the comments from Foxborough Patch Facebook fans regarding the incident on Mechanic Street.

Alison Scoble Gallagher said: "We're just a couple of houses down and couldn't believe how loud it was. Glad all is okay."

Said Cheryl McGuire: "I'm all the way in Summerfield and it sounded like an explosion. So happy to hear she's ok."

Said Bridget Whyte: "Glad to hear everyone's safe. That was a LOUD one!"

Said Connie Blagden Wigmore: "That was the loudest sound I have ever heard! Brightest flash everywhere! Scared all of us!!! So glad that everyone is ok! Thanks for keeping us updated!"

Said Amy Angevine Davison: "I'm on Cocasset St and the boom rocked my entire house. Hope everyone & everything is OK."

Said Linda Keller: "We had the same experience and live just off of Mechanic Street near Exit 8. Could have sworn it actually hit my house. It was the loudest boom I've ever heard. Shook our house too. Hope no damage was done to anyone’s house."

Said Katie Bates: "Here up by the common was quite the roll of thunder. It happened so fast I didn't even see the lightning before we heard it. Went for at least 5 seconds."

Said Elaine Price Gildred: "Hit my neighbors house next door to me, shattered a glass table top on my deck and knocked a picture down off the wall. Loudest and scariest thing I have ever heard. Spoke to the elderly lady that lives there, she is fine but going to the hospital just to make sure."