A junior at Carbondale Community High School was struck and killed by lightning Thursday afternoon during a track meet between Carbondale, Cairo and Carterville.
Corey Williams, 18, of Carbondale, was struck by lightning while participating in the track meet at the high school at about 4 p.m. Jackson County Coroner Thomas Kupferer said in a press release that Williams was transported to Carbondale Memorial Hospital after resuscitation efforts at the scene were unsuccesful. Williams was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly before 5 p.m.
Principal Vicky King said the whole school is in turmoil after the popular student's sudden death.
"It's a tragedy, you know, it's a real nightmare for everybody," she said.
King said Williams was struck by lightning shortly after the meet began near the jumping pits in a field on the northwest end of campus. Witnesses said the storms had already passed and there was no rain or lightning in the area, she said.
The lightning seemed to come out of nowhere, King said, and witnesses told her there was a "huge pop and that was it."
King said members of the high school's athletic training staff were on hand almost immediately and paramedics arrived shortly thereafter, but both parties were unable to resuscitate Williams.
Friday classes at the high school have been canceled, but King said the building will remain open for any students who seek counseling and extra counselors will be on hand to help grieving students.
The high school's Lifesaver Program, a group of about 100 students specially trained to help their peers through difficult times, will also be available for students, she said.
