Truck driver escapes injury after lightning strikes vehicle in Iowa

A truck driver from Santa Clarita, California, narrowly escaped injury after his semi-truck was struck by lightning while he was sleeping at an Iowa rest stop.

David Rodriguez was sleeping in his vehicle near the Nebraska border in Shelby, Iowa, around 5:30 a.m. on August 13 when a loud noise jolted him awake. He initially believed he had been involved in a collision with another vehicle, but quickly realized the truck's roof was on fire due to a lightning strike.

Rodriguez reported that the fire spread so rapidly he was unable to use a fire extinguisher and had to flee the vehicle immediately. He sought assistance from another driver to call 911. While Rodriguez was uninjured, the truck is considered a total loss. His trucking company has since completed the delivery of the fleet of cars he was transporting.