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Woman Presumably Killed By Lightning Identified

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A 65-year-old woman has died after allegedly being struck by lightning in Stewart County.

According to Greg Barrow, Stewart County Coroner, the woman from Clarksville, identified as Franceen Crowl, was camping at Piney Campground in Dover.

Her husband called for help around 11:50 a.m. Thursday.  He had stepped inside his tent when he heard a loud boom.

He then looked outside and saw his wife lying underneath a tree.

When emergency crews arrived at the scene, Crowl was pronounced dead.

Authorities said she was presumably struck by lightning. 

There were other people camping in the area at the time. No one else was hurt. 

The investigation was ongoing, and an autopsy has been set to confirm her cause of death.

Officials at the Piney Campground said safety has always been a priority. Safety officers and officials monitor alerts from the National Weather Service and do their best to keep campers updated on the weather. They also said campers need to take precautions.

"If the weather starts getting bad, get off the water, that is the first place lightning could strike" said Rickey Daughtery, Piney Campground Manager. "High winds is another thing we keep an eye out for. Look before you go out. If there looks like there are thunderstorms, maybe you need to keep your family at home."

NOAA reported the last lightning fatality in Tennessee was in June of 2007.