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A woman dining at a lakeside restaurant in Summerton, South Carolina, was killed on Saturday evening (May 23) after being struck by a patio umbrella blown loose during a sudden strong wind, according to local authorities.
The Clarendon County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Dana Weinger of Huger, South Carolina. She and her husband were seated on the patio at Driftwood Grill Home of the Lazy Gator, located along Lake Marion, when a gust of wind dislodged an umbrella from a table, striking her in the head and neck area. First responders arrived quickly, but found Weinger unresponsive and she was pronounced dead at the scene, the coroner’s office said. The incident happened at around 7:40 p.m.
The Clarendon County Coroner’s Office is investigating the death as an accident and said an autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. According to a statement from the restaurant, the fatal incident happened during a “sudden severe weather event at Lake Marion.”
The restaurant expressed its condolences and noted the impact on guests, staff, first responders, and the community. "This has deeply affected many people in our community, including guests, staff, first responders, and everyone involved," the restaurant said in a statement on social media. The restaurant also held a support session on Monday for those impacted by the tragedy, involving chaplains and local authorities.