The widowed husband of a Florida mother who was stuck by lightning and killed as she picked her two young daughters up is suing their local school board, claiming they played a role in her death.
Nicole Tedesco, 41, was killed as she collected her little girls, 10-year-old Ava and eight-year-old Gia, from Keeth Elementary School in Winter Springs, northeast of Orlando, in August 2022.
The bolt injured her daughter, Ava, and the family dog together with an 18-year-old woman, but it was Nicole who sadly lost her life in the sudden storm.
Her widower, Orlando Sanford Airport Police Officer Andrew Tedesco, is now suing the Seminole County School Board accusing them of failing to provide a safe area for parents to wait while the storm passed.
Winter Springs police Chief Matthew Tracht said at the time the conditions changed quickly and without warning.
‘This storm came upon us fast … There (were) no alerts, no severe weather alerts, that came in and prompted, “Hey, the storm’s coming,” he said.
‘It was, “Bang!” – just like that. Little bit of rain came, lightning and then it was just pure mayhem after that.’
Orlando Sanford Airport police Officer Andrew Tedesco is suing a Florida school board after his wife, Nicole, was killed after being struck by lightning. They are pictured with their two daughters, 10-year-old Ava and 8-year-old Gia
10-year-old Ava and 8-year-old Gia were being picked up by their mother from their elementary school when she was struck by lightning. Ava was also hit but she survived
Suing Seminole School Board by Anthony Talcott
The family dog, Vito, was also hurt during the lightning strike but managed to pull through
Investigators believe a tree the victims were standing by was struck by lightning, and those close to it were hurt when the area became energized by the bolt.
According to the complaint, her daughters ‘were approaching their mother’ when lightning struck, killing Nicole and allegedly ‘severely’ injuring the girls and the family dog.
The lawsuit accuses the school district of failing to recognize the weather threat or provide proper safety measures. Nor did they warn others about the danger, which resulted in Tedesco’s death.
‘Specifically, (the) school board makes parents wait outside for their children during dismissal in an area that is unprotected from rain, thunderstorms, and other extreme weather,’ the lawsuit reads. ‘No protection from the elements is available.’
It also states how the incident occurred at a time of year ‘where heavy rain, thunderstorms and specifically lightning can occur at a moment’s notice,’ and suggests lightning ‘was a foreseeable risk for the parents having to wait for their young children during dismissal.
Investigators believe a tree the victims were standing by was struck by lightning and those close to it were hurt when the area became energized
The school board is accused of negligence and failing to recognize the ‘clear and present danger’ and ‘creating a dangerous condition’ on site
At the time, the school said that safety procedures were in place.
‘Seminole County Public Schools and Keeth Elementary School remain committed to the safety and security of all students and will continue to take safety precautions in the event of inclement weather,’ Seminole County Public Schools said in a statement.
The school board is accused of negligence and failing to recognize the ‘clear and present danger’ and ‘creating a dangerous condition’ on site.
The lawsuit argues the school board ‘owed a legal duty’ to Nicole and her family ‘to exercise reasonable care for her safety while she was lawfully on the property.’
According to the Seminole County Fire Department, Nicole Tedesco and Ava were taken to the hospital, where Nicole died shortly afterwards. Their family dog was also transported to an animal clinic but survived.
Nicole Tesesco had been picking up her two young daughters from Keeth Elementary School
Andrew Tedesco is now seeking more than $50,000 in damages from the school board.
A GoFundMe has raised almost $80,000 for the family.
Nicole ‘was a beloved Preschool and Sunday School teacher’ who was ‘loved deeply by everyone she met,’ reads her obituary.
She was remembered for having ‘a sweet, gentle soul with a discerning eye and rare ability to add her special touch to her friends and families lives.’
‘She was the best mom a kid could ask for,’ daughter, Ava, wrote.