UPDATE: OPD identifies man who died in afternoon storm in Ocala

Ocala Police Department officers Rose D’Ambro and Alisa Reneau were at the scene on Thursday where a man died after being struck by a falling tree during a thunderstorm. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]

UPDATE: The Ocala Police Department has identified the victim as Hunter Parks.

“The police investigation revealed that the victim and his coworker were near the tree before it fell. They started to hear the tree begin to crack and both started to run from the tree,” OPD Public Information Officer Jeffrey Walszak wrote in a statement.

“The coworker ran in one direction while the victim moved in another, ultimately placing him in the path of the falling tree,” he wrote.

Parks was employed as a landscaper with Grandview Landscaping Services, according to the statement.

ORIGINAL POST: A 37-year-old man who was in a parking lot in southwest Ocala was killed when he was struck by a large tree that split during a passing storm around 3 p.m. today, according to the Ocala Police Department.

The incident occurred in the 700 block of Southwest 46th Avenue, which is just west of Interstate 75 and about a half mile south.

According to preliminary information from OPD, the man was connected to a lawn service but was not doing lawn work when he was struck by the tree.

It is unknown if lightning was involved in the incident, which is still under investigation.

The victim was declared deceased at the scene.

The Florida Department of Health offers the following thunderstorm safety reminders:
• When thunder roars, go indoors: If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to pose a danger. Seek shelter immediately in a fully enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle.
• Avoid open areas and tall objects: Stay away from open fields, isolated trees, tall objects, and metal structures like fences and poles, which can act as lightning rods.
• Never take shelter under trees: Trees can conduct electricity and may cause injury if struck.
• Stay away from windows: Lightning can strike buildings; keep a safe distance from windows during a storm.
• Monitor weather alerts: Stay updated with real-time information from trusted sources like the National Weather Service or local emergency management.
• Avoid electronic devices: Unplug appliances and avoid using wired electronics to reduce the risk of electrical surges.