LACEY, Wash. — Cleanup is underway after a strong thunderstorm with 2,500 lightning strikes, wind and downpours ravaged some areas.
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Lacey was one of the areas that was hardest hit by the storm.
One man said he was lucky to be alive after he got out of his car for a time and risked the chance of being electrocuted.
[ >> See photos of the storm here ]
On Thursday, a number of drivers were trapped when the storm brought down a power pole and live power lines came down on top of cars on the Yelm Highway at Normandy Drive near Lacey.
The Yelm Highway remains closed between Wiggins and Western Trail, where eight power poles are down.
“I was supposed to be dead. I count my blessings and thank God every day that I was still alive,” said driver Tyrone Somerville.
The storm also caused power outage in the area.
PSE crews were having trouble getting electricity back on in many areas Thursday night because of so many downed trees.
As of 5 a.m. Friday, about 15,000 Puget Sound Energy customers were without power. Some schools are closed.
In other parts of Lacey, dozens of trees crashed onto homes.
Heavy rains could be behind a crash on State Route 9 in Lake Stevens.
A driver hit a pickup truck and drove into their SUV.
The impact pushed the family into the path of a dump truck. It was hit so hard, its engine was pushed under the driver's seat.
Family members in the SUV are badly injured.
The driver who police say caused the crash is also in the hospital and is expected to survive.
Another round of storms hit parts of Western Washington overnight bringing lightning, thunder, and heavy rain.
Within an hour on Friday morning, half to three-quarters of an inch of rain was reported in Puyallup, Auburn, Bonney Lake and the Snoqualmie areas.
Heavy rain caused the closure of streets in Auburn. Eighth and R street and Auburn Way at SR 18 were closed by standing water. Both roads are now open after storm drains were cleared.