WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. – Investigators have identified the woman killed by lightning in Seminole County as the mother of two and wife of an Orlando Sanford International Airport police officer.
Nicole Tedesco died Thursday after lightning struck a tree under her 10-year-old daughter Ava and her dog Vito, officials said.
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The Winter Springs community laid flowers at Trotwood Park to pay their respects to Nicole, who was on her way to pick up her daughters from school at Keeth Elementary School when the storm hit.
Ava was released from Arnold Palmer Hospital on Friday and Vito was released from the vet’s office after observation.
“This is a tragic, tragic incident,” Winter Springs Police Chief Matthew Tracht said Friday during a news conference at Orlando Sanford International Airport.
Read: Mother dies, child injured after lightning strikes tree in Winter Springs, police say
Tracht said he had never seen anything like this happen in his 25-year police career.
Officials said Nicole’s husband, Andrew Tedesco, had been working for the airport police since April 2021.
Photos: Child injured, mother dies after lightning strikes tree in Winter Springs, police say
Police Chief Tom Fuehrer said the family is “overwhelmed by the kindness and support” but is asking for privacy to grieve.
The airport started a GoFundMe for the family. You can click here to give.
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