16 Inmates Hospitalized After Lightning Strike at Ohio Prison
A lightning strike at the Grafton Correctional Institution in Grafton, Ohio, sent 16 inmates to the hospital on the evening of August 11, 2026. The incident occurred as the inmates were returning from their evening meal, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC). One individual was airlifted to a hospital, while nine have since returned to the facility. Six remain hospitalized in stable condition, and one is in serious condition. No staff members were injured, and no fatalities have been reported. A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect for northwest and north-central Ohio during the evening, with wind gusts exceeding 60 mph as the primary hazard (USA Today, August 12, 2026). 
