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STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – A longtime high school coach has died in a freak accident after being struck by lightning while cutting his lawn on Friday, according to the National Lightning Safety Council.
The agency said it happened in Steubenville, Ohio, and the man’s death marks the 14th lightning fatality of the year in the U.S.
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A statement from Steubenville City Schools said Joe Pierro was a longtime teacher, coach, colleague and friend.
The school district said, “Yesterday, the Big Red family suffered a tremendous loss with the sudden passing of a man who dedicated so much of his life to serving and inspiring young people.”
They went on to say that Pierro was more than a teacher and a coach, having served as an assistant coach for 31 years. Of those, 24 were spent as a varsity assistant coach, where he “made a lasting impact as the first base coach and outfield position coach.”
High school officials said Pierro, better known as Coach P to many, dedicated his life to helping young people learn, grow, compete and believe in themselves.
“His impact reached far beyond the classroom and playing field—through the countless lives he touched, the lessons he taught, and the relationships he built,” Steubenville High School said on Facebook.
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According to the National Weather Service (NWS), lightning kills about 20 people in the U.S. every year, and typically occurs more often during the summer months.
“While we have seen a downward trend in lightning deaths over the years, hundreds of people are still seriously injured and many of those injuries are never reported,” the NWS said.
Several people in the community have posted on social media about Pierro’s death, many of whom say they are heartbroken, but will cherish the memories.
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Local reports indicate that Pierro had just retired three weeks ago. He leaves behind a daughter.
